The grand inauguration of the Ayodhya temple, dedicated to Bhagwan Sri Ram at his birthplace, is eagerly anticipated nationwide. The construction and associated tasks have been completed well ahead of schedule, with the final touches currently underway. The festive spirit has taken hold, particularly among the residents of Ayodhya.
As part of the initiative, the distribution of invitations for the momentous event has commenced.Distinguished personalities, including former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani, former Union Minister Murali Manohar Joshi, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjuna Kharge, and other VIPs, are expected to attend the ceremony.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Sangh Parivar outfits orchestrated an extensive campaign a day ahead of schedule where only seven VIPs, including Governor RN Ravi, CM MK Stalin, BJP State President K Annamalai, film actor Rajinikant, AIADMK general secretary Edapadi K Palaniswamy, and PMK leader Ramadoss, will receive official invitations.
While CM Stalin’s invitation is set to be delivered on January 4, the remaining VIPs have been personally invited by RSS and Parivar Karyakarthas. RSS pramukhs confirmed that an invitation was presented to AIADMK general secretary and Leader of Opposition Edapaddi K Palaniswamy on Sunday. The campaign includes distributing a picture of Bhagwan Ram to every household in the state, along with ‘Akshat’, a sacred offering from the Ayodhya temple.
The ‘Griha Sampark Abhiyan’ (door-to-door campaign) aims to reach approximately 25 crore households nationwide from January 1 to 15. This initiative precedes the much-anticipated Ram temple consecration and seeks to involve every home in the ceremony. The distributed ‘Akshat’ serves as an invitation for individuals to commemorate the event from their residences and encourages planning a visit to Ayodhya once the temple opens to the public.
The RSS, along with affiliated organisations like VHP, Hindu Munnani, and others from the Sangh Parivar, is actively participating in the public outreach and distribution of invitations. The campaign extends to the distribution of rice, symbolising ‘Akshat,’ and involves volunteers from all 36 branches of the RSS, including Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Mazdoor Sangh, Bharatiya Janata Party, and Vidya Bharati.
As one of the largest events, the consecration ceremony on January 22 is expected to be graced by Prime Minister Modi and around 7,000 other notable figures. The RSS has strategically employed LED screens to live broadcast the ceremony, providing an immersive experience for the public.
In a noteworthy move, the TN BJP has announced plans to facilitate the travel of people from Tamil Nadu to Ayodhya free of cost, covering train fare, boarding, lodging, and all expenses till the end of March. Special trains operated by Railways from Chennai to Ayodhya are set to support this initiative.
Amidst the campaign, volunteers have been advised to abstain from carrying flags or any identifiable paraphernalia representing their organisations. The RSS, nearing its centenary year, has experienced significant growth in Tamil Nadu over the last decade, organising daily’shakhas’ at approximately 2,400 locations alongside frequent weekly and monthly meetings. The extensive preparations underscore the cultural and religious significance attached to the upcoming Ayodhya temple consecration, representing a milestone for the entire nation.
