INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday opened a controversial Hindu temple built on the ruins of a historic mosque in the northern
city of Ayodhya, delivering on a crucial Hindu nationalist pledge that his governing party hopes will catapult him to a record third
long-standing demand by millions of Hindus who worship the revered deity
Hindu pride, which they say was shadowed by centuries of Mughal rule and British colonialism.Modi, dressed in a traditional kurta tunic, led
Ram was installed last week
intricate gold ornaments and holding a golden bow and arrow
He later prostrated before the idol.Millions of Indians watched the ceremony on television, with news channels running non-stop coverage of
Ram Rajya is a Sankrit phrase that means just and ethical governance in Hinduism, but has also been used by Hindu nationalists to signify
Hindu domination in an officially secular India.Nearly 7,500 people, including elite industrialists, politicians and movie stars, witnessed
the ritual on a giant screen outside the temple as a military helicopter showered flower petals.Modi has been the face of an unprecedented
and unapologetic fusion of religion and politics in India
Ahead of the temple opening, he set the tone by visiting numerous Ram temples over 11 days as part of a Hindu ritual.Analysts and critics
ministers prior to Modi have also been to temples, been to other places of worship, but they went there as devotees
billion.Ayodhya, once crowded with tightly packed houses and rundown stalls, has undergone an elaborate makeover in the lead up to the
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.Jubilant devotees from across the country have arrived to celebrate the
and billboards of Modi are ubiquitous across Ayodhya, where the borders have been sealed to prevent more people from coming in
Some 20,000 security personnel and more than 10,000 security cameras have been deployed.The moment will be remembered as momentous and
state four days before the ceremony.Built at an estimated cost of $217 million and spread over nearly 3 hectares (7.4 acres), the temple
lies atop the debris of the 16th-century Babri Mosque, which was razed to the ground in 1992 by Hindu mobs who believed it was built on
temple ruins marking the birthplace of Lord Ram.The site has long been a 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
Hindus while giving Muslims a different plot of land.The fraught history is still an open wound for many Muslims, who see the construction
open to the 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
Governing party workers have gone door to door handing out religious flags, while Modi encouraged people to celebrate by lighting lamps at
Even the stock and money markets were closed for the day.But not all are rejoicing
