Temple trust in Ayodhya said that BJP heavyweights LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, who led the campaign for the Ram temple in Ayodhya, are unlikely to attend the consecration event next month due to their age and health.
According to the sources, both are elderly and dealing with health problems, according to Ram Temple Trust general secretary Champat Rai. They have been asked not to attend the event they have accepted, in light of these considerations.
Mr. Rai claims that preparations are well advanced for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is expected to attend the consecration event on January 22. According to him, the ‘praan pratistha’ puja would start on January 16 and last through January 22. The preparations will be completed by January 15.
Regarding Mr. Advani and Mr. Joshi, citing age and health concerns, Mr. Rai provided a comprehensive list of those invited. Joshi will turn 90 next month, and Advani is currently 96 years old. In order to visit and extend an invitation to former prime minister Deve Gowda to attend the ceremony, a three-person delegation has been assembled, according to Rai.
About 150 saints and sages, as well as Shankaracharyas from six darshanas, would take part in the event, according to Mr Rai. 2.200 additional guests have been invited to the ceremony, he continued, along with about 4,000 saints. Representatives of religious and constitutional organisations, as well as the heads of important temples such as Kashi Vishwanath and Vaishno Devi, have been invited, he added.
The function will be attended by the spiritual leader Dalai Lama, Mata Amritanandamayi of Kerala, yoga guru Baba Ramdev, movie stars Rajnikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit, Arun Govil, film director Madhur Bhandarkar, and notable industrialists like Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani, renowned painter Vasudev Kamat, ISRO Director Nilesh Desai, among many other distinguished figures, according to Rai.
Following the consecration ceremony,’mandal puja’ will take place, following traditional customs, starting on January 24 and lasting for 48 days. He also mentioned that on January 23, the temple will open to devotees.
According to Mr. Rai, suitable plans have been prepared for the visitors to stay at more than three locations throughout Ayodhya. Aside from this, 600 rooms have been provided by a number of family families, temples, and monasteries.
There is plan to construct the ‘Ram Katha Kunj’ corridor within the Ram Janmabhoomi complex. It will feature tableaus depicting 108 incidents from the life of Lord Ram, he said.
