Frenzied preparations are underway in India’s holy city of Ayodhya for the opening of the Ram Mandir, a grand temple dedicated to Lord Ram, Hinduism’s most revered deity. The temple’s opening on Monday will fulfill a long-standing Hindu nationalist pledge and is expected to resonate with voters ahead of the upcoming national election scheduled for April or May.
To accommodate the tens of thousands of devotees expected to attend, several sprawling tent cities are being erected nearby. Private jets will transport India’s elite, including top industrialists, movie stars, and celebrities, to Ayodhya for the ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has also planned live screenings across the country and at some Indian embassies around the world.
Modi himself will be in attendance, along with several Hindu priests, for the consecration ceremony, during which a statue of Lord Ram will be placed in the temple’s inner sanctum.
The construction of the Ram Mandir has long been advocated by Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which campaigned for the temple to replace the 16th-century Babri Mosque that was demolished by Hindu mobs in 1992, leading to deadly riots. In 2019, India’s Supreme Court granted the site to Hindus, ending a decades-long dispute by giving a different plot of land to Muslims for a mosque.
The timing of the temple’s opening ahead of the national polls is expected to give a significant boost to Modi, who seeks a record third-consecutive term as prime minister. With approximately 80% of India’s population being Hindu, the temple’s inauguration at such a contentious religious site is a strategic move to capitalize on the religious sentiments of the majority.
The three-story structure of the Ram Mandir, clad in pink sandstone, spans an area of 2.9 hectares within a larger 28-hectare complex. It will feature a 1.3-meter idol of Lord Ram, believed by Hindus to have been born at the exact site where the Babri Mosque once stood.
Ayodhya has undergone a massive transformation in preparation for the temple opening. The narrow roads have been replaced by a four-lane pilgrim route, including a newly developed 13-kilometer Ram Path leading to the temple. The city now boasts a new airport and a sprawling railway station, while major hotel chains are constructing new properties and locals are converting their homes into homestays. Flower sellers and street food vendors have also made changes to meet the anticipated surge in demand.
The opening ceremony is expected to be attended by nearly 7,500 people, with estimates suggesting that by the end of the year, up to 100,000 devotees per day will visit Ayodhya.
However, not everyone is in favor of the temple’s inauguration. Two head priests from a Hindu sect have refused to attend the ceremony, citing religious scriptures that go against consecrating an unfinished temple. Additionally, some politicians from the opposition Congress party have declined invitations, with many labeling the temple a political endeavor.
Despite these dissenting voices, Hindus across India are eagerly awaiting the temple’s opening. Volunteer groups associated with the BJP and other Hindu nationalist organizations are distributing religious flags and pamphlets, while politicians are visiting local temples in a show of devotion.
The Ram Mandir, with its elaborate architecture, including 42 gold-clad doors and intricate wall carvings, is estimated to cost $217 million. Although construction is ongoing, the temple’s opening marks a significant milestone in the fulfillment of a deeply cherished religious and political aspiration.
As Ayodhya eagerly awaits the consecration of the Ram Mandir, the opening of this long-awaited temple holds great significance for the Hindu community in India. While it ignites religious fervor, the event is undoubtedly intertwined with the political landscape as Modi seeks to secure another term as prime minister by harnessing the sentiments of India’s Hindu majority. As the country prepares for the upcoming national election, the Ram temple’s inauguration is expected to provide substantial momentum for Modi and his ruling party.
