Ahead of the grand consecration ceremony of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir at Ayodhya on January 22, an extensive campaign is underway to invite all Hindu households in the country for darshan at the temple.
The ambitious invitation distribution programme, which kicked off in the New Year and will continue till January 15, is seeing Sangh Parivar and Vishwa Hindu Parishad workers undertake extensive village tours across the country.
Engaging in door-to-door campaigns, workers are presenting households with symbolic offerings such as yellow rice, images of Ram Lalla, stickers, and a detailed history of Ram Janmabhoomi. The message conveyed is that Ram Lalla himself has extended a personal invitation.
A meticulous effort is being made to reach every Hindu family across the nation, leaving no potential invitee overlooked. While Sangh leaders acknowledge the magnitude of this challenge, they express confidence in its successful completion.
To execute this extensive exercise, the entire country has been systematically divided into regions, with shipments of rice and accompanying materials dispatched accordingly.
Sangh Parivar workers, as part of their meticulous approach, are adding flower petals to the rice and personally delivering these offerings to households. The workers, representing various groups, traverse neighbourhoods while resonating conch shells and bells, drawing the attention of residents, who emerge from their homes to witness this symbolic gesture.
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Beyond the distribution of invitations, the Sangh Parivar has initiated a nationwide public awareness campaign on the determination and relentless efforts invested in the construction of the Ram temple. This comprehensive initiative extends beyond mere invitations, covering the dissemination of information related to all aspects of the temple.
The sheer scale of this extensive campaign and the distribution of such a large number of invitations are unprecedented and have not been witnessed before. While it remains challenging to determine the exact number of people the Sangh Parivar workers will be able to invite to the Ram temple, the potential could reach into the millions if the campaign continues at this pace.
Opposition parties ruffled
The opposition parties are closely monitoring the events organised by the BJP and Sangh Parivar, associating them with the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. There is a perception that BJP is turning the inauguration of the Ram Temple into a significant electoral issue, and has achieved some success in doing so.
Earlier, the opposition parties believed that the Trust, given its connection to the Sangh Parivar, might exclude opposition leaders from the consecration ceremony of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. However, contrary to those expectations, the Sangh Parivar extended invitations to leaders from major political parties.
The opposition is currently grappling with a significant religious dilemma— whether to accept or reject the invitation. Acceptance might convey alignment with BJP's path, a stance the opposition often criticised. On the other hand, declining the invitation could prompt BJP to adopt a more aggressive stance, potentially sending a message that might be misconstrued by the Hindu community.
Mobilising 2 crore people
In addition to the invitations, there are concerted efforts to mobilise approximately 2 crore people to Ayodhya within the next three months under BJP's banner. Extensive preparations, including booking of buses, arrangement of trains, and the formation of dedicated teams to oversee logistics and coordination, are underway.
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Arrangements are being made for food and accommodation for the anticipated attendees The Sangh Parivar is confident that a large number of the invited individuals will visit Ayodhya in the upcoming days. Special arrangements are being made to facilitate the travel of those whose financial circumstances may not allow them to come to Ayodhya on their own.
There is a plan to bring approximately 50 lakh people from Bihar alone to Ayodhya. The success of this Sangh Parivar initiative could have an impact on the elections. BJP aims to create an environment across the country that is both centred around Lord Ram and supportive of the Sangh Parivar.
(This is a translated version of a previous article published on the Hindi Moneycontrol website on January 3.)
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