Breaking News LIVE: Please follow this space for all the breaking news and latest updates from India and around the world.
Ram Temple Inauguration: Stage Set In Ayodhya For Consecration Ceremony
After a prolonged wait of 500 years, the Ayodhya Ram Mandir will finally be inaugurated on Monday (January 22), with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the ‘Pran Pratistha’ rituals.
The ‘Pran Pratisha’ of the idol of Ram Lalla will begin at 12.20 pm and is expected to end by 1 pm on Monday, following which the prime minister will address a gathering of more than 7,000 people, including seers and prominent personalities, at the venue.
Lakhs of people are expected to watch the event live on TV and online platforms, with many states declaring a holiday while the Centre has announced a half-day. The temple complex will be opened to people from January 23 onwards.
Additional Forces On Roads As Kolkata Braces For Over 35 Rallies On Monday
Kolkata Police has taken a number of measures to prevent any untoward incidents in and around the city during West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s ‘Sampriti Rally’ and 35 smaller processions on Monday, as reported by news agency PTI. Banerjee’s rally is coinciding with the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, according to a senior officer.
The officer said 4,000 policemen will be deployed on city roads and several traffic diversions have been planned to ensure that commuters do not face problems. The proposed rallies will pass through Bhowanipore, Camac Street, Sealdah, Garfa, Patuli, Sakuntala Park, and the port areas, the officer added.
“Normally, we witness a heavy rush of office-goers on Mondays because it’s the first day of the week. Tomorrow, since we have a large number of rallies, a decision has been made to deploy 4,000 policemen on the roads to ensure smooth traffic flow,” the officer said, as quoted by PTI.
Ram Temple Consecration: AAP To Take Out Shobha Yatras, Organise Bhandaras In Delhi On Monday
Shobha yatras to bhandaras, Sundar Kand recitals to aartis, the AAP has planned a series of events across the the 70 assembly constituencies of Delhi to mark the consecration ceremony at Ram temple in Ayodhya on Monday. Addressing a press conference, AAP senior leader and MLA Dilip Pandey said that while the entire country is enthusiastically lined up to welcome Lord Ram, Delhi is not lagging behind.
“All party ministers, MLAs, councillors, leaders, and workers will participate in ‘bhandaras’ (community kitchens), prasad distribution, and shobha yatras organised to celebrate Lord Ram’s welcome on January 22 across all 70 constituencies of Delhi,” Pandey said, as quoted by PTI.
Pandey added that Ramlila is being organised in Delhi and ‘shobha yatras’ are being taken out at seven places to celebrate the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of the Lord Ram idol.