The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has announced that the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, scheduled for January 22, 2024, will be a “great moment of joy for everybody.” The announcement came during a three-day meeting of the RSS national executive held at Bhuj in Gujarat’s Kutch district.
Addressing the media after the conclusion of the meeting, Dattatreya Hosabale, the Sarkaryavah of RSS, shared details of the upcoming festivities. He revealed that RSS workers would undertake a nationwide door-to-door campaign from January 1 to 15, inviting people to join the grand opening ceremony.
The Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of the RSS, Sunil Ambekar, expressed excitement about the construction of the “magnificent temple” dedicated to Lord Shri Ram. “After several years of efforts, a magnificent temple of our Lord Shri Ram is being built in Ayodhya,” he stated. He emphasised that the consecration ceremony on January 22 would mark a historic moment, not only for those in India but also for the global community.
Ambekar urged people across the country to participate in the celebration, even if they couldn’t travel to Ayodhya. “It will be an occasion for a festival. Everyone will not be going to Ayodhya. People will celebrate this festival by visiting their nearest temples,” he explained. He further encouraged the lighting of diyas at homes during the night time, extending an appeal on behalf of the RSS for nationwide participation in the festivities.
Highlighting the symbolic significance of Bhagwan Ram, Ambekar described him as a symbol of “dignity, love, and dharma.” He called upon the people to embrace the consecration ceremony as a moment of harmony and celebrate it as a festival, reinforcing the idea that it would be a unifying event for the entire nation.
“It will be a great moment of joy for all of us. It will be a moment of harmony,” Ambekar expressed optimistically. He added, “And, I think that with the consecration of the idol at the temple, India will keep up its march on the path of progress.”
Notably, the guest list for the consecration ceremony includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and thousands of seers from various parts of the country. The invitation extends beyond regional boundaries, symbolising the broader significance of the event in the cultural and religious landscape of India.
As the nation eagerly anticipates the grand opening of the Ram Temple, the RSS’s call for nationwide celebrations reflects the cultural and emotional significance attached to this historic moment. The consecration ceremony on January 22 is poised to be a momentous occasion, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds in a collective celebration of faith and unity.
