In a momentous occasion set to resonate globally, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has extended invitations to representatives from 50 foreign countries to attend the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir scheduled for January 22, 2024. The ceremony will mark the culmination of a long and arduous journey towards the construction of the Mandir.
Champat Rai, the General Secretary of the Trust, personally signed the invitation letters, expressing the strong desire for dignitaries to witness the consecration of the new idol of Ram Lala in the sanctum sanctorum. The ceremony is set to take place on Paush Shukla Dwadashi, Vikram Samvat 2080, and is anticipated to be a significant historical event.
To manage the attendance of the VVIPs, the organisers have introduced a sophisticated entry system using barcode passes. Out of the 7,000 invitees, 4,000 are expected to be religious leaders, contributing to the spiritual sanctity of the occasion. The remaining invitees will comprise prominent figures from various fields, including judges, scientists, writers, poets, and families of 50 kar sevaks who sacrificed their lives during the movement.
The consecration ceremony will feature the installation of an idol of Ram Lalla in the form of a five-year-old boy. Three idols, crafted from stones sourced from Karnataka and Rajasthan, are nearing completion, with the most exquisite one set to be selected for consecration.
Champat Rai shared, “Ram Lalla will be seated in the Mandir in the form of a five-year-old boy. For this, three idols are being made from two stones brought from Karnataka, and one from Rajasthan. The idols are almost ready and are being given final touches. The most beautiful idol will be selected for consecration.”
Among the illustrious invitees are cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, industrialists Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, and Ratan Tata, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, and actors Arun Govil and Dipika Chikhlia, known for portraying Ram and Sita in the iconic TV serial ‘Ramayana.’ The guest list also includes journalists who played a pivotal role in supporting the Ram Mandir movement through their writings and reports.
VHP spokesperson Sharad Sharma highlighted the inclusivity of the invitation list, stating, “We have also invited saints, priests, Shankaracharyas, former civil servants, retired army officers, lawyers, musicians, and Padma awardees.”
The organisers have emphasised the importance of media involvement in the success of the Ram Mandir movement, extending invitations to journalists who contributed significantly through their coverage. Sharad Sharma noted, “Without them, the struggle for Ram Mandir could not have been successful.”
As the nation eagerly awaits this historic event, the consecration ceremony is poised to bring together diverse voices and dignitaries from around the world to witness the culmination of a journey that has been deeply ingrained in the cultural and historical fabric of India.
