Ram Navami celebrations stoke political fervour ahead of Lok Sabha polls

Surya Tilak on Ram Lalla's forehead at noon on Ram Navami sparked devotion nationwide, broadcasted on TV and online platforms.

Amidst the reverberating chants of "Jai Shri Ram," the adornment of Surya Tilak on Ram Lalla's forehead at 12 noon  on Ram Navami ignited a wave of devotion across the nation. The ceremonial event, hosted at Ram Mandir where Ram Lala was consecrated on January 22, captivated audiences for at least four minutes.

The visuals, streamed live on television channels, YouTube, and newspaper websites, swiftly proliferated across the country via WhatsApp messages.

"Har Jagah Ram hi Ram hai" (Everywhere there is Lord Ram), said BJP leader and Legislator Vijay Bahadur Pathak, emphasizing the potent political message resonating from this Ram Navami celebration.

With the first phase of polling slated for April 19, just two days after the Ram Navami festivities, the euphoria surrounding the occasion has buoyed the BJP's spirits. In Lucknow's bustling Bhootnath Market, former BJP corporator Dilip Srivastava hosted a bhandara amidst chants of "Hum unko layenge, jo Ram ko laaye hai" (We will vote for those who brought Lord Ram).

No one objected to this song with political overtone.
Srivastava remarked, "Bhai sahib asli baat yehi hai" (Brother, this is the truth), gesturing towards the speaker with a twinkle in his eyes.

While Ram Navami, organised to celebrate the birth of Lord Ram in Ayodhya, united devotees in reverence, it also fueled a war of words between the BJP and TMC in Bengal.

A day prior to his Eid speech, on April 10, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's government declared Ram Navami as a public holiday in the state, drawing criticism from the BJP. The saffron party accused Banerjee of attempting to "redeem her anti-Hindu image" amidst ongoing political tensions.

Ram in Modi’s speech:

In Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched scathing attacks on the Congress for their alleged indifference towards the consecration ceremony of Lord Ram. During his address in Pilibhit on April 9, Modi accused the Congress of obstructing the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and disrespecting Lord Ram by declining the invitation for the 'pran pratishtha' ceremony.

"The Congress made several efforts to obstruct the construction of the Ram temple. Yet, when the people of the country erected such a magnificent temple through their contributions and extended an invitation for the 'pran pratishtha,' you insulted Lord Ram by rejecting the invitation and expelled the leaders who attended it for six years," Modi asserted.

Ram Mandir and election:

Amid these fervent celebrations and political exchanges, the BJP strategically positioned the Ram Temple as a central narrative in the upcoming 2024 elections. Months of meticulous planning culminated in an extensive outreach program, extending from the consecration ceremony to March.

Initiatives such as the Aastha Train by Indian Railways, Kalash Yatra, Ayodhya Darshan, and Mandir Deep Jyoti spearheaded by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, aimed to mobilize millions of devotees across India. Additionally, efforts to distribute informational booklets on the history of the Ram temple movement and encourage people to display Ram flags at their homes and vehicles were undertaken by Sangh Parivar volunteers, who also conducted household visits to deliver sacred rice.

As Ram Navami celebrations subside, the resonance of Lord Ram's name continues to echo through the political corridors, shaping the discourse as the nation braces for the electoral battlegrounds ahead.