INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday was set to open a contentious Hindu temple built on the ruins of an ancient mosque in the holy
It fulfills a demand made by millions of Hindus for over 100 years and delivers on a crucial campaign pledge from Modi and his Hindu
nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.Ayodhya, once dotted with tightly packed houses and rundown stalls, has undergone an elaborate makeover
in the lead up to the inauguration
Narrow roads have been turned into a four-lane pilgrimage route leading to the temple, tourists are arriving at a new airport and sprawling
railway station, and major hotel chains are building new properties.On Monday morning, the mood in the city was jubilant
Devotees from across the country have arrived to celebrate the opening, with groups of them dancing to religious songs that blare from
have been sealed to prevent more people from coming in
Some 20,000 security personnel and more than 10,000 CCTV cameras have been deployed.Harish Joshi arrived in Ayodhya from Uttarakhand state
will attend the consecration ceremony later on Monday, for which a 1.3-meter (4.25-foot) stone sculpture of Lord Ram was installed in the
billion.Built at an estimated cost of $217 million and spread over nearly 3 hectares (7.4 acres), the temple lies atop the debris of a
the birthplace of Lord Ram.The site has long been an intense religious flashpoint for the two communities, with the demolition of the mosque
triggering bloody riots across India that killed 2,000 people, mostly Muslims.The dispute ended in 2019 when, in a controversial decision,
Muslims a different plot of land.The fraught history is still an open wound for many Muslims, who see the construction of the temple as a
public after the ceremony and they expect 100,000 devotees to visit daily
Builders are still working to finish 46 elaborate doors and intricate wall carvings.The inauguration has morphed into a massive national
BJP workers have gone door to door handing out religious flags, while Modi has encouraged people to celebrate by lighting lamps at homes and
Even the stock and money markets are closed for the day.But not all are rejoicing
