Ram Mandir is now there forever & ever: Modi in Ayodhya

INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (30) inaugurated a new airport and a revamped railway station in the holy city of Ayodhya in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh ahead of the much-awaited consecration ceremony of the Ram temple on January 22.

During his address at a rally in Ayodhya during the day, Modi urged all devotees of Lord Ram not to go to Ayodhya the same day and advised them to start arriving from January 23 onwards. He said the Ram Mandir is now there forever and ever.

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"I have a request to all. Everyone has a wish to come to Ayodhya to be a part of the event on 22 January. But you know it is not possible for everyone to come. Therefore, I request all Ram devotees that once the formal programme is done on 22nd January, they should come to Ayodhya at their convenience, and not make up their minds to come to Ayodhya on 22nd January. You all can come starting January 23 till eternity. Ram Mandir is now there forever and ever," Modi said.

The inauguration of the temple will take place months before India goes to the national elections.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, December 30, 2023. To his right is Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and to left is Indian civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. Other dignitaries are also seen. (ANI Photo)

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Earlier in the day, the prime minister arrived in a festooned, festive Ayodhya to unveil a ‘new look old’ city with an airport, a revamped train station and projects worth Rs 15,700 crore (£1.48 billion) ahead of the consecration ceremony. He was received at the airport by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and governor Anandiben Patel, a former chief minister of Modi's home state Gujarat.

The flower-bedecked temple town, associated with the epic Ramayana for centuries and at the centrestage of modern day politics since the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, was the cynosure of attention as Modi said the strength of ‘vikas’ (development) and ‘virasat’ (heritage) would take India forward.

“The whole world is waiting for the historic moment of the 'pran pratishtha' ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22,” he said in the rally.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi after flagging off two new Amrit Bharat trains and six new Vande Bharat Trains in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, December 30, 2023. (ANI Photo)

Stressing that the business of people from across the country and the world coming to Ayodhya had started and would go on till eternity, Modi also appealed for a resolve to make the town the cleanest in the country.

Addressing the meeting after inaugurating the Maharshi Valmiki airport and the redeveloped station named Ayodhya Dham from where he flagged off two Amrit Bharat and six Vande Bharat trains, some virtually, he appealed to all citizens to light diyas (earthen lamps) in their houses on January 22 so the entire country basks in the glory of the temple.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the Ayodhya Dham Junction railway station in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, December 30, 2023. Uttar Pradesh governor Anandiben Patel (second from left), chief minister Yogi Adityanath (third from left), and Indian railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (left) are also seen. (ANI Photo)

He also said that the historic moment has become a reality in a lifetime and that it was time to take a new resolution for the country and fill oneself with a new energy. He added that the whole world is awaiting the temple's consecration ceremony.

Women artists display a painting depicting the life of Lord Ram as they wait to welcome Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, December 30, 2023. (ANI Photo)

The day in Ayodhya, which in 1992 catapulted to global headlines with the demolition of the Mughal-era Babri Masjid by a group of kar sevaks who believed it was built on the birthplace of Lord Ram, was one of dances, music and the many folk colours of Uttar Pradesh and other states. After he arrived in Ayodhya, Modi held a roadshow from the airport to the railway station and was greeted by hundreds of people lining the route.

Modi greeted people from his car and at one point opened the door of his vehicle to wave back at them. People showered flower petals, waved BJP flags and raised slogans in his praise. The prime minister also witnessed performances by cultural troupes along the route.