Congress has declined the invitation for the 'Pran Pratistha' ceremony of Bhagwan Ram Lalla, scheduled later this month in Ayodhya, categorizing the Ram Temple inauguration as an event associated with the BJP and RSS.

According to a statement by the party's general secretary, Jairam Ramesh, senior Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, have opted not to attend the grand event in Ayodhya.

In a recent statement, it was revealed that key political figures have been invited to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22nd, 2024. The invitations were extended to prominent leaders, including Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, who serves as the Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, the Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson, and Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the Leader of the Congress Party in the Lok Sabha.

The Congress party's general secretary, Jairam Ramesh asserted that while Bhagwan Ram holds significance for millions in the country, religion remains a personal matter. However, Ramesh contended that the RSS/BJP has turned the construction of the temple in Ayodhya into a political endeavor.

He noted that the leaders of the BJP and the RSS have seemingly expedited the inauguration of the incomplete temple for electoral gains. While acknowledging the 2019 Supreme Court judgment and respecting the sentiments of the Bhagwan Ram devotees, Jairam Ramesh stated that Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have chosen to respectfully decline the invitation to an event that is perceived as primarily affiliated with the RSS/BJP.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to participate in the installation ceremony of the idol of Ram Lalla at the grand temple on January 22. Temple officials have confirmed that the elaborate ceremony will span seven days, commencing on January 16.

Preparations are in full swing for the Ram Temple 'Pran Pratishtha' on January 22, attracting dignitaries and individuals from various backgrounds. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has finalized the noon of January 22 for the enthronement of Ram Lalla at the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Temple. Vedic rituals marking the Pran-Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya are scheduled to commence on January 16, a week preceding the main event.

Varanasi priest Lakshmi Kant Dixit has been designated to conduct the primary rituals during the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22. The period from January 14 to January 22 in Ayodhya will be observed as Amrit Mahotsav. Ayodhya, renowned as the birthplace of Bhagwan Rama, bears profound spiritual, historical, and cultural importance for the people of India.

Image source: ANI