Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a temple dedicated to Hindu god Ram in the contentious city of Ayodhya. The temple replaces a 16th-century mosque demolished by Hindu mobs in 1992, an event that led to riots resulting in nearly 2,000 deaths.
The inauguration witnessed the presence of top film stars, cricketers, and a celebratory atmosphere in Ayodhya. However, notable Hindu seers and a majority of the opposition boycotted the event, alleging political motives behind Modi’s involvement.
With general elections looming, critics accuse Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of leveraging the temple for political gain in a predominantly Hindu nation. Some argue that the government is exploiting a religious celebration in a country constitutionally defined as secular, causing anxiety and painful memories among Muslims, India’s largest minority.
The live televised ceremony featured Modi participating in religious rituals alongside priests and Mohan Bhagwat, head of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological foundation of Hindu nationalist parties. Modi proclaimed the day as historic, stating, “After years of struggle and countless sacrifices, Lord Ram has arrived [home].”
The temple, constructed at a cost of $217 million, saw only its ground floor inaugurated, with completion expected by year-end. The ambitious project is part of a $3 billion city revamp.
Built on a decades-long Hindu nationalist promise, the temple’s construction signifies a pivotal moment in Indian politics. Many Hindus believe the Babri mosque was erected by Muslim invaders on the ruins of a Hindu temple marking the birthplace of the deity Ram.
Tens of thousands of chanting Hindu devotees celebrated the event, with helicopters showering flower petals on the temple. Saffron flags and images of Lord Ram adorned the streets, accompanied by banners featuring Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Renowned figures, including Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, attended. The ceremony, named Pran Pratishtha, lasted about an hour, emphasizing Hindu rituals believed to infuse sacred life into the temple’s sanctum.
In 2019, the Supreme Court allocated the disputed land to Hindus after protracted legal battles following the mosque’s demolition. Muslims were allotted a plot outside the city for a mosque, yet construction has not commenced.
While some in Ayodhya acknowledge Hindus’ right to build the temple per the Supreme Court’s decision, others express mixed emotions about it being constructed at the expense of the mosque.
The three-storey temple, made of pink sandstone and black granite, spans 7.2 acres. A specially commissioned 51-inch statue of the deity was unveiled last week. Authorities deployed thousands of police for the event, urging pilgrims to watch the ceremony on television.
Despite the monumental occasion, religious seers contested the rituals, arguing against performing them in an incomplete temple. Opposition leaders also abstained, and some states organized alternative plans for the day.
As Ayodhya anticipates over 150,000 daily visitors once the temple is fully ready, extensive preparations, including new infrastructure, hotels, and transportation, are underway. However, concerns arise as locals report demolitions of homes and religious structures to accommodate the city’s transformation into a “world-class” pilgrimage destination.
