India’s Ram Mandir opens in Ayodhya

A massive Hindu temple, constructed on a site in India that Hindus believe is the birthplace of Lord Ram, was opened on Monday amid grand celebrations and with support pouring in from around the world.

The edifice was built at a place known as Ram Janmabhoomi (the birthplace of Ram) in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. It spans about 380 feet with a width of 250 feet and a height of 161 feet.

At Monday’s consecration ceremony, a bejeweled idol of Lord Ram was unveiled.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a central figure in the consecration ceremony that was attended by thousands including high-profile guests like several Bollywood stars and Indian cricketers.

The Prime Minister urged Indians to recommit themselves to building a more prosperous India in the years ahead.

“We take a pledge to build a capable, grand, divine India from this moment.

“… Ram temple’s construction will set off a firestorm. They should reconsider as Ram is energy, not fire, a solution not dispute,” the Indian Prime Minister said.

According to Reuters, India’s majority of Hindus say the site is the birthplace of Lord Ram, and was holy to them long before Muslim Mughals razed a temple at the spot and built the Babri Masjid or mosque there in 1528. The mosque was destroyed in 1992.

In 2019, the Supreme Court handed over the land to Hindus and ordered the allotment of a separate plot to Muslims.

Meanwhile, several mandirs in Guyana are hosting special sessions on Monday evening in commemoration of the Ayodhya temple’s inauguration.

The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS), an organisation that represents Hindus locally, is also celebrating the mandir’s inauguration.

In a Facebook post, the GHDS said, “Devotees from Guyana join with devotees and friends from India and around the world as Prabhu Ram Chandra, Maata Seeta and Lakshmanji return to Ayodhya. Jai Shri Ram!”