The imminent inauguration of the Ayodhya Ram Temple is marked by the Pran Pratishtha ceremony for Ram Lalla, scheduled to occur between 12:15 pm and 12:45 pm on January 22.
The ceremony in the temple town will be led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, and the president of the temple trust, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das.
More than 7,000 distinguished guests, including individuals from the cricketing community, entertainment industry, and business sector, have been extended invitations to participate in the event.
The demolition of a structure to create space for a mosque occurred in 1528. As per widely cited historical accounts, Mir Baqi, a general under Mughal ruler Babur, built a mosque on the site, alleged to be 'Ram's birthplace' in Ayodhya's Ramkot.
Conflict in British India
Tensions arose over the Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya as early as 1853. During Nawab Wajid Shah's reign in Awadh, the Nirmohis, a Hindu sect, claimed that a Hindu temple, allegedly demolished during Babur's rule, had made room for the mosque.
Six years later, a barrier was erected by the British authorities to separate the area into two parts. Muslims were allowed to offer prayers inside the mosque, while the outer courtyard was allocated for Hindu activities.
In January 1885, Mahant Raghubir Das filed a petition with the Faizabad district court, seeking permission to build a structure on the Ramchabutra, an elevated platform located outside the mosque. Unfortunately, the request was not granted.
Statues of Lord Ram discovered within Babri Mosque - 1949
- A figure representing Lord Ram is found inside the Babri Mosque. Gopal Singh Visharad submitted a petition to a Faizabad court for the worship of the deity. Hashim Ansari, an Ayodhya resident, appealed to the court for the removal of the idols and the preservation of the mosque. The government secured the area, permitting priests to conduct daily rituals.
A plea was submitted in 1961, seeking the return of a property to the Muslim community. The Sunni Central Wakf Board initiated legal action in the Faizabad civil court, asserting the Babri Mosque as the board's property.
Campaign initiated for the construction of a temple in honor of Lord Ram
1980s
A committee, led by a group associated with the initiative, was formed with the aim of securing the site considered the birthplace of Lord Ram and building a temple in his tribute.
- Ayodhya court issues directive to allow Hindu prayers at the mosque (1986) In response to a plea by Hari Shankar Dubey, the district judge in Ayodhya issued an order allowing Hindus to worship at the disputed mosque. This led to the formation of the Babri Mosque Action Committee by Muslims in protest.
- Following the court's order, the government, under Rajiv Gandhi, instructed the unlocking of the gates of Babri Masjid.
Before the court ruling, exclusive authority for conducting the annual puja rested with a Hindu religious leader. After the decision, all followers of Hinduism gained permission to visit the site, resulting in the mosque taking on a dual function as a Hindu place of worship.
The VHP commenced the establishment of a temple dedicated to Ram in 1989.
- The construction of a Ram temple was initiated by the VHP on the neighboring land near Babri Masjid. A legal case, led by Justice Deoki Nandan Agarwal, the former VHP Vice-President, advocated for the relocation of the mosque. As a result, four ongoing cases in the Faizabad court were transferred to a specialized bench within the High Court.
Rath Yatra - 1990
Led by its then president, LK Advani, the BJP orchestrated a nationwide Rath Yatra starting from Somnath in Gujarat and concluding in Ayodhya. The primary focus of this procession was to demonstrate solidarity with the Ram Temple movement, spearheaded by the VHP during that period.
The march comprised numerous kar sevaks, or volunteers, associated with the Sangh Parivar. Commencing in Somnath, Gujarat, on September 25, 1990, the yatra passed through various villages and cities, covering an approximate distance of 300 kilometers each day. LK Advani, at the helm of the yatra, delivered numerous public addresses, often speaking at up to six rallies in a single day.
On October 23, 1990, the then Prime Minister VP Singh authorized Lalu Prasad Yadav, the Chief Minister of Bihar, to take legal actions regarding LK Advani. The former BJP president was placed under preventive custody as his procession crossed the border between Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
In 1992, the disputed structure known as the Babri Mosque witnessed demolition by karsevaks in the presence of leaders from Shiv Sena, VHP, and BJP on December 6th. The aftermath led to widespread communal riots across the country, resulting in significant loss of life during the ensuing violence.
Godhra train incident and Gujarat unrest - 2002
A coach (S-6) of the Sabarmati Express, transporting kar sevaks from Ayodhya to Gujarat, was engulfed in flames near Godhra station. Tragically, 58 individuals lost their lives in the incident, subsequently sparking unrest in Gujarat, claiming over 1,000 lives.
Archaeological Survey - 2003
In 2003, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conducted a survey of the contested area, uncovering evidence of a significant Hindu complex beneath the mosque. These findings were contested by Muslim organizations, contributing to ongoing disagreements about the historical interpretation of the site.
Allahabad HC divides the contested area intothree portions
- In 2010, the Allahabad High Court issued its verdict on the four title suits related to the dispute. The court ruled that the disputed land should be divided into three parts: one-third allocated to Ram Lalla, represented by the Hindu Mahasabha; one-third to the Islamic Waqf Board; and the remaining third to the Nirmohi Akhara. Subsequently, in December, both the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha and the Sunni Waqf Board approached the Supreme Court, contesting the High Court's decision.
All three factions approached the Supreme Court in 2011.
- The Nirmohi Akhara, Ram Lalla Virajman, and Sunni Waqf Board collectively challenged the verdict of the Allahabad High Court.
The Supreme Court intervened by halting the High Court's directive to divide the contested site into three portions.
In November 2019, a five-judge panel of the highest court ruled for the transfer of 2.77 acres of disputed land to a trust established by the Indian government. This decision pertains to the construction of a temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi site. Furthermore, the court instructed the government to provide an alternative five-acre plot at a different location for the construction of a mosque, as well as directed the Sunni Waqf Board to receive this allocation.
The panel of five judges that issued the directive was headed by the Chief Justice of India at that time, Ranjan Gogoi. Significantly, he retired a mere eight days following the pronouncement on November 17. The remaining justices on the panel included SA Bobde, DY Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan, and S Abdul Nazeer.
The organization established for the development of the Ram temple goes by the name Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Shetra. This entity is composed of 15 members.
Foundation stone laying event - 2020
In August 5, 2020, the Prime Minister participated in the ceremony marking the initiation of the construction for the Ram Temple. During the event, the Prime Minister revealed a commemorative plaque and introduced a special postal stamp.
Dedication ceremony (Pran Pratishtha)
for Ram Lalla - January 22, 2024
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