Saffron-themed invite with trimmed-down guest list for Ram temple event

A saffron color themed invite with an image of ‘Ram Lalla idol’ or infant Lord Ram in the centre was unveiled just two days before the grand Ram temple construction ceremony in Ayodhya on Monday (Aug 3).

The Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust had earlier mentioned that the event will have only a limited gathering of 200 people to adhere to social distancing norms in place owing to the COVID pandemic. In view of the regulations the invite shows a drastically trimmed guest list to adhere to the norms. The invite features Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name along with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adithyanath, UP governor Anandiben Patel and Mahant Nritya Gopaldas. The five big names will be seated on the stage, NDTV reported.

The invite has reportedly been sent to around 150 people for the grand temple foundation laying ceremony, the preparations of which is underway in grand style. The trust earlier said that timings for ‘bhoomi pujan’ has been decided according to the Hindu calendar and the most auspicious time (12.15 pm) on August 5.

The rituals will begin on August 3 and end with a ‘bhumi pujan’ on August 5 before the construction of the temple commences. A group of 11 priests from Varanasi and Ayodhya will perform the three-day rituals.

The highlight of the ceremony is expected to be PM Modi laying a 40kg silver brick to signify the commencement of temple construction.

Contrary to what was anticipated big names like BJP leaders L.K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi who were key to the Ramjanmabhoomi agitation, will miss the groundbreaking temple ceremony. Former Union minister Uma Bharti on Monday said she will go for darshan of Lord Ram in Ayodhya after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others leave the venue of the ground-breaking ceremony for Ram temple construction there, in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Bharti was among the leaders of the Ram Janambhoomi agitation and is an accused in the Babri mosque demolition case.

The entire proceedings will be aired live on Doordarshan