Just like devotees waited for the construction of Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir at Ayodhya for around 500 years, a village in Chattisgarh’s insurgency-hit Sukma district waited for 21 years to open the doors of Bhagwan Ram’s Mandir till a camp of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was established.
After the establishment of CRPF’s 74th battalion camp, security forces have reopened the Mandir in Keralapenda village, that was shut down 21 years ago following the threat issued by Maoists.
The doors of the Ram Mandir were closed in 2003 following the threat issued by Maoists near villages Lakhapal and Kerlapenda.
According to information received from villagers, the Mandir was built by Bihari Maharaj in 1970, and villagers travelled around 80 kilometres on foot to bring the materials required for construction.
During the time of the Mandir’s construction, the region lacked road connectivity and adequate facilities for transport. Villagers brought construction materials by covering the distance on foot, guided by their devotion to Bhagwan Ram.
According to locals, after the establishment of the Mandir, several among them gave up the consumption of meat and liquor (including Mahua alcohol).
As people in the village kept themselves away from violence due to their religious beliefs and habits, Maoists prohibited worship in the Mandir around 2003 as they lacked support from the village.
Villagers also recalled that a grand fair was conducted at the village and it used to mark the participation of devotees from adjacent areas as well as seers from Ayodhya. As the Maoist menace rose, worship in the Mandir stopped, and the fair ceased to exist. Eventually, the Maoists locked up the Mandir’s doors.
After a CRPF camp was set up near the village, security personnel opened the Mandir’s door to win their confidence and bring them to the mainstream.
Officials and troopers, along with villagers, carried out cleanliness exercises around the Mandir and opened the doors of the Mandir. Worship of the deities was followed by the performance of all rituals and traditions.
Impressed by the work of CRPF officials and personnel, villages extended gratitude to them for opening the Mandir.
“On March 14, 2023, Lakhapal camp of CRPF was opened and during area domination, they spotted an old Mandir in dilapidated condition at village Kerlapenda,” the Commandant of 74th battalion, Himanshu Pandey said adding that on enquiring, security personnel learnt about the glorious past of the locked Mandir.
“The village also informed that Maoists had caused damage to the Mandir and locked it in 2003”, he added, citing the inputs collected from villagers. However, one family kept on offering worship secretly, the Commandant said.
Pandey further said that the establishment of the camp created excitement among villagers and they requested the security personnel for the renovation of the Mandir.
“Considering the request of villagers, security personnel carried out cleanliness at the Mandir and handed it over to them. Routine worship and performing of rituals by villagers started in the Mandir. Recently, a group of women and children performed worship at the Mandir during evening hours. With the opening of the Mandir, spreading positivity in the village and linking them with development will be our effort,” Pandey said.
(with inputs from ANI)
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