Ayodhya Ram Mandir-Themed Lav Kush Ram Leela In New Delhi This Year
He said this after a meeting of the trust on Sunday evening.
The Trust also finalised its rules and regulations in the meeting that was presided over by Nripendra Misra, chairman of the Ram temple construction committee.
"After several revisions, we have reached this estimate. Even this might go up," Rai said about the construction cost.
The Trust has also decided to use white marble in construction of the idol of Lord Ram.
Idols of several other deities of the Ramayan era will also come up at the Ram temple.
"Rules and regulations of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust have been finalised. We have been working on it for the past several months," Champat Rai said.
The construction of the temple is expected to be completed by December 2023 and Lord Ram is expected to be seated in the sanctum sanctorum by the Makar Sankranti festival in January 2024, Rai said.
He also said 14 of the 15 trust members attended the meeting.
With this ceremony, the construction of the temple will pick up pace.
Yogi Adityanath said that the Ram temple would be known as 'Rashtra Mandir' on completion.
Millions of Hindus had been yearning for this day since decades, the Chief Minister said, adding that he was fortunate to be a part of the ceremony.
Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and other members of the temple trust were also present on the occasion.
Later, the chief minister offered prayer at Hanuman Garhi and the Ram temple.
In a statement issued last week, the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, which is heading the temple's construction, had said white marbles from the Makrana hills of Rajasthan would be used in the sanctum sanctorum.
The temple trust said the total stone volume to be used for the temple project included 8 to 9 lakh cubic feet of carved sandstone, 6.37 lakh cubic feet of uncarved granite, 4.70 lakh cubic feet of carved pink sandstone for the temple and 13,300 cubic feet of Makrana white carved marble for the sanctum sanctorum.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attended the 'Bhoomi Pujan' or the foundation stone laying ceremony for the temple in August 2020 after which construction had started. The temple is expected to be ready just before the 2024 national elections.
According to the Trust, construction of sanctum sanctorum is expected to be completed by December 2023.
Khao Gali, the street road connecting Convent School, has about 30 food stalls. Water and toilet facilities are provided in the lane having necessary beautification measures in place.
Under the programme of Blissful Hygienic Offering To God (BHOG), Tarinima Temple in Rourkela and ISKCON Temple Nayapali, Bhubaneswa have also received the certification of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Sharing the information after a State-level food safety advisory committee meeting held on digital mode, Odisha government officials said that the State has moved up in the National Food Safety Index.
Odisha was placed at 26th position in 2018-19, 13th position in 2019-20. The State has moved to the 4th position in 2020-21, the officials stated.
At the meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Suresh Mahapatra, instructions have been given to train street vendors about preparations of safe food. Similarly, the officials have been asked to ensure that production and use of adulterated raw food materials should be dealt with sternly.
The State Food Testing Laboratory has enhanced its capacity and has been accredited by the National Accreditation and Calibration Board. Apart from this, mobile food testing laboratory has been rolled out for food testing in different melas, public celebrations and festivals.
It is pertinent to mention here that in 2020-21, 3049 samples were collected and tested by way of surveillance and enforcement. Out of this, 576 samples were booked under adulteration and misbranding.
By the end of October 2021-22, 1984 samples were tested, out of which 446 were booked under adulteration or misbranding. Apart from this, a total of 280 cases were compounded with fines.
Sources said that some locals spotted the limbs dumped in the garbage pile and informed the police regarding the incident.
Later, police officials rushed to the spot and launched an investigation into the matter.
The only thing that made her marriage special was the fact that Manaswini was not alone rather she tied the knot along with 25 other girls at a mass marriage ceremony held at Ram Mandir here.
Wearing a red sari, Manaswini arrived at the venue along with 25 other girls who got married on a single day at the mass marriage ceremony organized by Prayas, a voluntary organisation.
What also made this function completely different was the fact that it tried to break the shackles of unethical practices of dowry and other regressive customs.
"I am very happy that 25 couples got married at a single venue and for me it was really special," said Manaswini.
Arya Kumar Gyanendra, president of Arya Samaj informed that it is for the last four years that Prayas organisation has been trying to arrange marriage of couples who cannot afford to spend in a grand way.
"We follow all the traditional rituals and it is indeed a privilege for us to help people and bring a change in the society," said organizer BN Patnayak.
The incident came to light a day later when the temple priest came to open the temple early today.
Shocked after finding the locks and the grills of the temple broken, the priest informed the temple Committee who immediately brought the matter to the notice of the police.
On receiving information, Kamakhyanagar SDPO Seikh Abdul Karim and IIC Gyanaranjan Samal reached the spot and have begun investigation into the incident, sources said.
“When I came to open the temple, I noticed that the main doors were broken and the ornaments were missing,” said the temple priest.
“The burglars entered into the temple late last night by breaking the main gate and have robbed several ornaments of the deities. Investigation is on and the miscreants will be arrested soon,” said a police official.
Hardly had the industry recovered from the news of the arrest of comedian Tatwa Prakash Satapathy aka Papu Pom Pom in a case of sexual abuse of a minor girl when it got another shocker in the form of the sudden demise of leading film producer Kusha Ranjan Patanik on Thursday night.
Patnaik, who was also the president of the Odia Film Producers’ Association, died on Thursday night in a road accident near Ram Mandir square here. He was 56.
According to sources, the incident took place when Patnaik was crossing the road. A speeding bike hit Patnaik leaving him seriously injured. Patnaik was rushed to a private hospital where doctors declared him dead, sources added
The autopsy will be conducted today and the last rites of Patnaik will be performed later in the day, said sources.
Patnaik had produced movies like Kandhei Akhire Luha, Kehi Jane Bhala Lagere and Chocolate.
Musical recitals of Ramcharitmanas and Ram Katha Amrit were organised in various shrines in Bhubaneswar to celebrate the birth anniversary of Lord Ram.
In the capital city, Ram Navami celebrations began with gaiety and fervour at Ram Mandir, as hundreds of devotees lined up to offer their prayers to Lord Ram, Lakshman and Devi Sita.
Ram Navami falls on the ninth day of the Hindu lunar year and is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
In Puri Sri Mandir, special rituals will be conducted to mark the occasion.
They took a flight to Faizabad from where they will drive down for an engagement at the Laxman Killa in Ayodhya, and later perform a 'maha-aarti' on the banks of Sarayu river on Saturday evening.
At the Laxman Killa, he will be felicitated by a large number of Hindu holy men, besides common people and perform a puja there.
On Sunday morning, Thackeray will go for a darshan of Ram Lalla accompanied by local party leaders, sants and sadhus, interact with the media and later with the public, though plans for a public rally were not finalised yet.
For the Ayodhya visit, Thackeray is carrying an urn containing the earth from the Shivneri Fort - the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Pune district of Maharashtra.
Over 4,000 Shiv Sainiks from Maharashtra, besides more from other parts of the country have preceded him to Ayodhya since the past couple of days, a party spokesperson said.
Party leaders including Sanjay Raut, Ministers Eknath Shinde, Rajan Vichare, Mumbai Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar and others have been camping in Ayodhya since the past few days to prepare for Thackeray's visit.
This will be the Thackerays' first-ever visit to the holy city, though in the past his father and founder of the Shiv Sena, the late Bal Thackeray had travelled to Uttar Pradesh on a couple of occasions.
The party's prime demand is to expedite the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya by promulgating an Ordinance to the effect.
Upping the party stance on the issue, Thackeray had announced his plans to visit Ayodhya during his Dussehra rally here last month.
Coinciding with the visit, the Shiv Sena has organised prayer meetings and 'maha-aartis' all over Maharashtra with senior party leaders joining them. Representatives of the North Indian community here have also expressed support for the party.
A three-member bench of Justice Dipak Misra, Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice Abdul Naseer asked contesting parties to translate into English, within 12 weeks, the exhibits of the documents on which they will likely rely upon since these were in eight different languages.
The Uttar Pradesh government was asked to translate within 10 weeks the evidence recorded for adjudication of the title dispute in the Allahabad High Court into English.
The apex court reached a consensus on commencement of the hearing on the cross-appeals filed against the 2010 high court judgment.
The bench gave time to complete translation of nearly 1 lakh pages from eight different languages to English and said the time frame fixed by it for completion of pleadings is final and no adjournment will be granted.
The court had constituted special bench to hear appeals filed against the high court judgement in the Ayodhya land dispute case.
The high court's Lucknow bench had said the disputed 2.77 acre area at Ayodhya should be partitioned equally among three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.
The Uttar Pradesh government sought early hearing of the case, while counsels appearing for Sunni Waqf Board and the Nirmohi Akhara told the court they need time to prepare for the case as documents are voluminous.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy, who filed an intervention application seeking early hearing in the case, told the bench that his fundamental right to worship should be considered.
The court, however, said it will hear appeals first.
Filing an affidavit, the Shia Waqf Board on Tuesday said a mosque can be built in a Muslim-dominated area maintaining a reasonable distance from Lord Ram's birthplace in Ayodhya.
It had said closeness of places of worship "should be avoided in as much as both denominations using loudspeakers tend to disturb religious performance of each other, often leading to conflicts and acrimony in the two factions".
"To bring quietus to the issue, Masjid can be located in a Muslim-dominated area at a reasonable distance from the most revered place of birth of Maryada Purushottam Sri Ram," it added.
The Shia Waqf Board contended that the Sunni Waqf Board has no stake in the case since the mosque was Shia property.
"Since Babri Masjid was a Shia Waqf, only Shia Central Waqf Board, Uttar Pradesh, is entitled to negotiate and arrive at a peaceful settlement with other remaining stakeholders," the affidavit stated.
The would adjudicate the dispute over ownership of Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid land.
Taking potshots at Modi for his "56-inch chest" remark made during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, it said the Congress did not have the courage to build the Ram Temple, so it was thrown out of power, and a man with a "56-inch chest" was given the keys to the administration.
"Yet, if you see the Congress in water, on land and in air, people will once again have to measure your chest size. If Ram continues to stay in 'vanvaas' (exile) then stop your political 'nautanki'," the Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.
During the 2014 Lok Sabha poll campaign, Modi had said that a "56-inch chest" was needed to tackle Pakistan.
On the prime minister's charge that the Congress was creating hurdles in the court's process, the Sena said, "Modi has to stop levelling allegations against the Gandhi family and the Congress. You were not given power to keep cribbing about such problems. The Congress and the Samajwadi Party were ousted because of their hurdles in the construction of Ram Temple. So, stop blaming the Congress now".
"Did demonetisation not happen despite opposition from the Congress? Did you not form government in Jammu and Kashmir with (People's Democratic Party chief) Mehbooba Mufti despite hurdles from the Congress? Then what is the hurdle in (construction of) Ram temple?" it asked.
Contrary to the BJP's claims, it is not the Congress, but a "lack of political will" that is the biggest hurdle in the temple's construction, claimed the Sena, which is an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre and in Maharashtra.
"What is (Congress chief) Rahul Gandhi's importance? What strength does the Congress have? Then why give it so much importance? If you play politics on temple while keeping the gun on the Congress' shoulders, you will disappear. Ram temple was not Congress', but BJP's promise," it said.
It also said that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya has fulfilled one objective - those who were sleeping over the issue did not turn but at least have opened their eyes and understood that 'jumlebaazi' (rhetoric) will not work as far as the Ram Temple is concerned.
Thackeray had offered prayers at the Ram Lalla Temple in Ayodhya on Sunday and said the BJP government at the Centre "may not last" if the temple was not constructed.
He had demanded that an ordinance be brought in to pave way for the temple's construction, warning that emotions of Hindus should not be taken for granted.
Special programmes including musical recitals of Ramcharitmanas and Ram Katha Amrit have been organised at Ram Mandir and other temples in Bhubaneswar today to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Ram.
Devotees throng Ram Mandir in Bhubaneswar to offer worship on Ram Navami today #Odisha #RamNavamiInOdisha pic.twitter.com/cQoJaoIzm7
— OTV (@otvnews) April 13, 2019
Re-up: Ram Mandir in #Bhubaneswar teeming with devotees on Ram Navami#Odisha #RamNavamiInOdisha pic.twitter.com/r4PyUPVt7q
— OTV (@otvnews) April 13, 2019
Similarly, host of programmes has been lined up by different organisations and temples in Bhadrak, where the Ram Navami rituals are being performed since the past 6 days. Elaborate security arrangements have been made by the administration and police as over 60 processions are expected to be taken out in Bhadrak town today.
The Ram temples at Palamandap, Chandini Chowk, Chahata Ghat and Khannagar Panchamukhi Hanuman temple in Cuttack also saw huge footfall of devotees.
In Puri, secret rituals were conducted at Srimandir on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami.
Processions were also taken out by devotees in Rourkela, Kendrapara, Balasore and other places of the State too.
Ram Navami celebrations in Kendrapara #Odisha #RamNavamiInOdisha pic.twitter.com/4CdA6lrnB9
— OTV (@otvnews) April 13, 2019
Ram Navami celebrations in Rourkela #Odisha #RamNavamiInOdisha pic.twitter.com/8yWppaeDZa
— OTV (@otvnews) April 13, 2019
Ram Navami festival also marks the end of the nine days of the Navaratri festival, during which many devotees observe fast in reverence of goddess Durga.
Nirmohi Akhara, one of the parties to the case, said while advancing the arguments that the structure has been in its exclusive possession.
The day-to-day hearing in the case commenced Tuesday after the efforts to arrive at an amicable settlement through mediation failed.
A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi was told by senior advocate Sushil Jain, appearing for Nirmohi Akhara, that it was seeking management and possession of the area.
The bench, also comprising Justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S A Nazeer, began the day-to-day hearing by rejecting the plea of former RSS ideologue K N Govindacharya seeking recording of the Ayodhya case proceedings.
The Akhara counsel told the apex court that their suit was basically for belongings, possession and management rights.
"I am a registered body. My suit is basically for belongings, possession and management rights," said the Akhara counsel.
He also told the court that the Akhara was in possession of the inner courtyard and Ram Janmasthan for hundreds of years.
"We were in possession of inner courtyard and Ram Janmasthan for hundreds of years. Outer courtyard having 'Sita Rasoi', 'Chabutra', 'Bhandar Grah' were in our possession and it was never a part of dispute in any case," the senior counsel told the bench.
The ongoing hearing also witnessed a heated exchange of words between the bench and senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, who is appearing for a Muslim party.
While the bench was asking the counsel for Nirmohi Akhara to confine his arguments to civil dispute and asking him to skip reading some written statements, Dhavan interfered and said perhaps there would not be any curtailment of arguments.
The CJI replied that there should not be any doubt in anybody's mind that the hearing or the arguments would be curtailed in any manner.
Dhavan did not stop and again said that is what he was saying and made some statement.
At this, the CJI said, "Dr Dhavan, keep the dignity of the court."
Dhavan said that he had replied to some questions only.
The bench told him, "Please keep in mind that you are officer of the Court and all we are saying that we are not going to curtail anybody's arguments".
The counsel representing Nirmohi Akhara claimed right over disputed 2.77 acre Ram janmabhumi-Babri Masjid land and said they have been possessing, managing and worshipping Lord Ram Lalla since time immemorial at the site.
"In any case, you have been given one-third of disputed area in preliminary decree by the High Court," the bench told the Nirmohi Akhara's counsel.
The counsel for Nirmohi Akhara referred to the Allahabad High Court findings on the issues framed in the land dispute.
"Before 1934, Muslims were offering regular prayers, High court had noted in the verdict," the bench observed.
The counsel for Nirmohi Akhara quoted the high court verdict and said that since 1934 to 1949, Muslims were offering Friday prayers at the disputed structure.
Citing another evidence, the counsel said that absence of provision for 'wuzu', by which Muslims wash hands and body parts before Namaz, at disputed site was interpreted by the high court to arrive at the conclusion that prayers were not being offered there since long and thus it had ceased to be a mosque.
The hearing in the case would continue in the afternoon.
Fourteen appeals have been filed in the apex court against the 2010 Allahabad High Court judgment, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77-acre land in Ayodhya be partitioned equally among the three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.
On December 6, 1992, the Babri Masjid, constructed at the disputed site in the 16th century by Shia Muslim Mir Baqi, was demolished.
The book brings forth old records of the British era, ancient Sanskrit texts and reviews from archaeological excavations, to prove that a temple did exist at the place of birth Lord Ram in Ayodhya before a mosque was built on it.
Titled "Ayodhya Revisited", the book is written by Kishore Kunal, a retired IPS officer of the 1972 batch.
Kunal hails from Bihar and is known for his stints there as a police officer as well as an administrator and president of the Bihar Board of Religious Trusts. He was Officer on Special Duty in the Home Ministry and was officially associated with the Ayodhya dispute in 1990, before the disputed structure was razed to the ground.
After retirement, he was appointed vice chancellor of KSD Sanskrit University in Darbhanga.
Former Chief Justice of India G.B. Patnaik has written the foreword of the book in which he says that the author has given a "new dimension to the history of Ayodhya" and establishes several facts, which are contrary to common beliefs as well as opinions of several historians.
The book says the "demolition of the temple" did not take place in 1528 AD (during Babur's regime), but in 1660 AD when Fedai Khan was the Governor of Aurangzeb in Ayodhya.
"It is wrong to say that Babar ordered the demolition of the Ram Janambhoomi Temple at Ayodhya. He never visited Ayodhya. The claim of historians that Mir Baqi, the then governor of Awadh, got the Babri mosque constructed in 1528 is fictitious," says the book.
It insists that the inscriptions on the disputed site are fake and therefore the conclusions drawn by many historians based on these are wrong.
It goes on to argue that Mughal rulers right from Babur to Shahjahan were quite liberal and extended patronage to all religions.
"All the Mughal emperors from Babur to Shahjahan were magnanimous and liberal rulers and the Bairagis of Ayodhya enjoyed patronage of the first four nawabs of Awadh. However, it was during the long rule of Aurangzeb, the the country got engulfed in the fire of fanaticism," it says.
The book says that Babar never visited Ayodhya or ordered demolition of the Ram Janambhoomi Temple there.
The book also quotes from the account of Father Joseph Tieffenthaler, an Austrailain traveller who visited India and stayed here for more than two decades.
Quoting Sanskrit, English and French scholars, Kunal has tried to establish that a temple did exist at the site in question in Ayodhya. The author has heavily relied upon literary sources of travel accounts of foreigners and archaeological excavation reports.
In the foreword, Patnaik says the accounts of Western scholars Thomas Herbert, Joannes De Laet and C. Mentelle have also been produced for the first time while writing the history of Ayodhya.
"It is a historical fact that until the British takeover of Avadh administration in 1858, both the Hindus and Muslims used to perform puja and offer namaz respectively at the site," he says.
The author has expressed hope that this book, first published in 2016, will remove misconceptions on the Ayodhya issue and transform the thinking of people.
In September 2010, a three-judge bench of Allahabad High Court, comprising Justices S.U. Khan, Sudhir Agarwal and D.V. Sharma, had ruled that the disputed land be split into three parts. It had said that the portion below the central dome under which the idols of Ram and other gods were placed, belonged to Hindus.
The matter is now in the Supreme Court.
On April 19, 2017, the Supreme Court had revived criminal charges against various leaders in the case but granted immunity to Kalyan Singh as he was the Governor of Rajasthan.
However, the top court had said the charges would be framed against the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister when he will complete his tenure as the Governor.
"Kalyan Singh, being the Governor of Rajasthan, is entitled to immunity under Article 361 of the Constitution as long as he remains Governor of Rajasthan. The court of Sessions will frame charges and move against him as soon as he ceases to be Governor," the Apex Court had said in 2017.
Kalyan Singh took charge as Rajasthan Governor on September 4, 2014.
The apex court had in 2017 revived the conspiracy charges against senior BJP leaders L.K. Advani, M.M. Joshi, Uma Bharti and others in the Babri Masjid demolition case.
On April 19, 2017, it had ordered the trial court to conduct day-to-day hearings and conclude the trial in the case within two years.
On July 19 this year, the top court asked the Uttar Pradesh government to find ways to extend tenure of special judge hearing the case and directed that the judgement should be delivered in nine months.
The Special Judge hearing the case was scheduled to retire on September 30 this year.
A frenzied Hindu mob razed the 16th century Babri mosque in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992. When this happened, Advani, Joshi and other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders were present at the spot.
Construction of the Ram Temple will also be a reality very soon just like abolition of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, he said.
"Have faith and patience, Ram Temple will soon be a reality. Earlier whenever we used to visit any event, we were asked when would Article 370 be abolished from Kashmir.
"People thought it would never be a reality. But now you can see that it has been abolished. So rest assured all the core agendas of BJP will soon be a reality," Patra said while addressing Ram Sharad Kothari Pratibha Samman 2019.
Ram Kothari and Sharad Kothari were killed in police firing while performing Karseva at the Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh in the early 1990s.
Abolition of article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, Uniform Civil Code and construction of Ram Temple are considered to be three core agendas of BJP.
Referring to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's opposition to the abolition of Article 370, Patra said she speaks the language of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and "has problems with everything good that is happening in India".
He said, "Whenever something good is happening - be it Chandrayaan 2 or abolition of Article 370, she has problems with it."
According to a notification issued by the Law Department, the State Principal Accountant General has been asked to audit accounts of 61 famous shrines across the State exercising the powers conferred under Sub-section (3) of Section (58) of Odisha Hindu Religious Endowment Act, 1951.
Accounts of the 61 shrines shall be audited by the auditors to be nominated by the State Principal Accountant General, said the notification.
The 61 shrines whose account will be audited are situated in different districts of the State like Khurda (7), Cuttack (6), Jagatsinghpur (2), Kendrapara (1), Jajpur (4), Bhadrak (3), Balasore (3), Angul (1), Sambalpur (1), Keonjhar (2), Sundergarh (3), Ganjam (3), Rayagada (1), Koraput (1), Bargarh (1), Puri (14) and eight Debottar institutions under direct control of Endowment Commission.
Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said, "We have dismissed the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by Shia Waqf Board challenging the order of 1946 Faizabad Court."
While reading out judgement, Gogoi said, "Babri mosque was built by Mir Baqi. It is inappropriate for the Court to get into area of theology. This court must accept faith and accept belief of worshippers and preserve balance.
"The claim of Nirmohi Akhara is only of management. Nirmohi Akhara is not a 'Shabait'. Arguments were made on archaeology report. Archaeological Survey of India's credentials are beyond doubt and its findings can’t be neglected," stated the bench.
Hindus consider Ayodhya as birthplace of Lord Ram,they have religious sentiments,Muslims call it Babri mosque. Faith of Hindus that Lord Ram was born here is undisputed. Hindus have faith and belief that Lord Ram was born under the dome. Faith is a matter of individual belief.
"Titles can’t be decided on faith and belief but on the claims. Historical accounts indicate the belief of Hindus that Ayodhya was the birthplace of Lord Ram," the SC bench observed.
There is evidence that Ram Chabutra, Sita Rasoi was worshipped by the Hindus before the British came. Evidence in the records shows that Hindus were in the possession of outer court of the disputed land. The mosque was not abandoned by the Muslims. Though the Hindus continued to worship at Ram Chabutra but they claimed ownership on Garbh Garha also.
There is no evidence that Muslims abandoned mosque.Hindus always believed birthplace of Lord Ram was in inner courtyard of mosque. Clearly established that Muslims offered prayer inside inner courtyard & Hindus offered prayers in outer courtyard, reported news agency ANI quoting Supreme Court.
Supreme Court orders that Central Govt within 3-4 months formulate scheme for setting up of trust and hand over the disputed site to it for construction of temple at the site and a suitable alternative plot of land measuring 5 acres at Ayodhya will be given to Sunni Wakf Board.
Vishnu Shankar Jain, Hindu Mahasabha Lawyer: Supreme Court has said, "to give 5 acres alternate land to Muslims at a prominent place in Ayodhya."
Varun Kumar Sinha, Lawyer of Hindu Mahasabha said, "It is a historic judgement and Supreme Court has given the message of unity in diversity.
On the other hand, Zafaryab Jilani, Sunni Waqf Board Lawyer said, "We respect the judgement but we are not satisfied, we will decide further course of action."
Responding on the Ayodhya Judgement, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said, "The SC judgement should be welcomed by everyone, it will be beneficial for the social harmony. There should be no further dispute on this issue, that is my appeal to the people."
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said, everyone must accept the Supreme Court judgement and maintain peace.
Iqbal Ansari, one of the litigants in Ayodhya case, said, "I am happy that Supreme Court has finally delivered a verdict, I respect the judgement of the court."
"Nirmohi Akhara is grateful that SC has recognised our fight of last 150 years and has given the Nirmohi Akhara adequate representation in the trust to be set up by the Central Government to build & manage the Shri Ram Janmasthan Temple," said Kartik Chopra, spokesperson, Nirmohi Akhara:
Zafaryab Jilani, All India Muslim Personal Law Board said, "We respect the verdict but the judgement is not satisfactory. There should be no demonstration of any kind anywhere on it. We will file a review petition if our committee agrees on it. It is our right and it is in Supreme Court's rules as well."
On Ayodhya verdict, Congress' Randeep Surjewala said, "Supreme Court's verdict has come, we are in favour of the construction of Ram Temple. This judgement not only opened the doors for the temple's construction but also closed the doors for BJP and others to politicise the issue."
"The Honourable Supreme Court has given its verdict on the Ayodhya issue. This verdict shouldn’t be seen as a win or loss for anybody. Be it Ram Bhakti or Rahim Bhakti, it is imperative that we strengthen the spirit of Rashtra Bhakti. May peace and harmony prevail!," tweeted PM Narendra Modi.
Modi further wrote, "SC’s Ayodhya Judgment is notable because: It highlights that any dispute can be amicably solved in the spirit of due process of law. It reaffirms the independence, transparency and farsightedness of our judiciary. It clearly illustrates everybody is equal before the law."
What's next? When will the construction of Ram Mandir begin? How long it will take to finish and most importantly, how will it look like?
The Ram Janambhoomi Nyas is eager to start construction at the earliest with help from the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). Though the VHP has toyed with many maps of the Ram temple, there's a blueprint based on the most agreeable version that the majority believes resembles the 'original' Ram Mandir.
While for years, doors and pillars are being carved in Ayodhya, the sanctum sanctorum needs to be built with great details where Ram Lalla, the deity, will be placed and worshipped. Though the walls of it are believed to be ready, the 'garbhagriha' (sanctum sanctorum) isn't.
A total of 212 pillars will be required across the temple. It will be assembled in two stages with 106 pillars in each stage. Almost half of the pillars are ready, while the remaining needs to be carved.
The assembly of pillars will take place in two tiers with the top tier having a roof. According to the approved design, the roof will have a "shikhar" that will give the massive structure a look and feel of "Bhavya Ram Mandir" (grand Ram temple).
The proposed structure will be 128 feet high. It will be 140 feet in width and 270 feet in length. No steel will be used in the support base.
The Ram temple will have five entrances: Singh Dwar, Nritya Mandap, Rang Mandap, Pooja Room and the all-important "Garbhagriha" with parikrama. Ram Lalla, the idol, will be placed on the ground floor.
At least 1.75 lakh cubic feet of sandstone will be required to construct the temple. A lot has been done, with work starting as early as in 1990. But a lot needs to be done as well.
More sandstones, more carving experts and expansion of the existing carving centre need to run against time to finish the temple. Even then, sources say, it won't be an easy task and will require a minimum of four years to complete the work.
"I cannot give you a timeframe on when the work will be finished. But we wish the construction begins as early as possible after completing the legal requirements," Alok Kumar, international working President of VHP told IANS.
One of the main reasons for time consumption is accessibility to the "karyashala". The roads are uneven and hence the supply of stones are also slow. Moreover, hand carving makes the process slower. However, the work for the ground floor is over.
However, there is a confusion over erecting a gigantic statue of Lord Ram, as many people want. It will need deliberation on the statue.
"The land of the mosque belongs to Allah and under Sharia law, it cannot be given to anybody," AIMPLB secretary Zafaryab Jilani told reporters after a meeting of the board here.
"The board has also categorically refused to take five-acre land in Ayodhya in lieu of the mosque. The board is of the view that there cannot be an alternative to the mosque," he added.
Settling a fractious issue that goes back more than a century, the Supreme Court, in its verdict in the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi title case on November 9, said the entire 2.77 acres of disputed land should be handed over to the deity Ram Lalla, who was one of the three litigants in the case.
The five-judge Constitution bench also directed the Centre to allot a five-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board in Ayodhya to build a mosque.
The president of the trust, Mahant Nritya Gopal, presided over the meeting here on Saturday. All members of the trust were present in this meeting that continued for over 2 hours and all the points regarding the construction of the temple were discussed.
Kameshwar Chaupal, a member of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, said: "Ram Temple will be 161 feet high and now five domes will be built instead of three."
Chaupal said that for the construction of Ram temple, a proposal has been sent to the Prime Minister's Office for Bhoomi Pujan.
PM Narendra Modi is expected to do Bhoomi Pujan for the temple in Ayodhya on August 3 or 5.
Besides, there was a discussion on the overall look and design of the Ram temple in the meeting. Ram temple would be modelled on the basis of the design proposed by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad but its length, width, and height will be increased.
It would take around 3 and a half years to complete the construction of the temple.
The construction work has been delayed due to the Coronavirus-triggered lockdown and other crises
(IANS)
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According to Nikhil Sompura, an architect and son of C. Sompura, chief architect of the temple, "The earlier design was prepared in 1988. Over 30 years have passed... the footfall is likely to increase. People are also very enthusiastic about visiting the temple. So, we thought its size should be increased. As per the revised design, the height of the temple has been increased from 141-feet to 161-feet."
The proposed #Ramtemple in #Ayodhya will now be bigger & taller in size. As per the revised design, the height of the temple has been increased from 141-ft to 161-ft, informed Nikhil Sompura, son of C Sompura, chief architect of the temple.
(File Photo: IANS) pic.twitter.com/XA5FiLwU81
— OTV (@otvnews) July 23, 2020
Sompura said that two mandaps have also been added to the design and all pillars and the stones that were carved based on the earlier design will still be used. Only two new 'mandaps' have been added.
The original design that was prepared in 1988, mentioned its height as 141 feet which has been raised to 161 foot tall.
The construction will begin after a grand groundbreaking ceremony on August 5 and for this, invitations have also been sent to the Prime Minister's Office and other VIPs.
The construction of the temple will take around 3.5 years, Sompura said.
"As soon as the groundbreaking ceremony or the 'bhumi puja' is done, the construction work will begin. The team of Larsen & Toubro, along with machinery and materials, have reached the spot and the work on foundation will start right away. It will take 3 to 3.5 years for the completion of the work," Sompura said.
Three-day long Vedic rituals will be held ahead of the grand groundbreaking ceremony, which will revolve around the installation of a 40 kg silver brick as the foundation stone.
The rituals will begin on August 3 with a 'Gauri Ganesh' Puja and will be followed by 'Ramracha' on August 4 in which the 'Ram Naam' will be recited without a break.
The entire ceremony will be telecast live so that all devotees can watch it from their homes.
Sources said that only about 50 persons will be allowed at the event. The restriction on the number of persons has been imposed due to the pandemic.
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra sources said that massive CCTV screens will be put up across Ayodhya so the devotees can watch the programme.
Meanwhile, the Jyotishpeethadheeshwar and Dwarka Shardapithadheeshwar, Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati has questioned the "mahurat" of August 5 for laying the foundation stone of the Ram temple.
The Shankaracharya said generally good work is initiated in the "Uttam Kaal" section of the Hindu calendar. "The August 5 date falls in the Dakshinayan Bhadrapada month of the Hindu calendar. August 5 is the second date of Krishna Paksha. In the scriptures, the beginning of the construction of the home/temple in the Bhadrapada month is prohibited," he said.
He said that according to Vishnu Dharma Shastra, the launch in the Bhadrapada month is the cause of destruction. The 'Daivagna Ballabh Granth' states that the home, made in Bhadrapada, brings poverty. Vastu Pradeep also says the same.
Shankracharya said that according to Vastu Rajaballabh, the beginning of Bhadrapada gives zero fruit.
He said that it is also not right to consider it as auspicious due to "Abhijit Muhurta". "Abhijit is prohibited on Wednesday in the marriage of Muhurta Chintamani. Till the Cancer is in the Sun, the foundation stone can be done only in the month of Shravan and not in Bhadrapada," said Shankracharya.
According to scholars, there is no coincidence of auspicious time in "Chaturmas". On social media too, many astrologers have objected to this, citing various almanacs.
(IANS)
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The ceremony is said to take place at 12:40 pm, which is the auspicious 'mahurat' for the groundbreaking ceremony. PM Modi along with CM Yogi and 175 dignitaries including seers from all over the country will attend the event.
Police barricades, yellow banners, walls with a fresh coat of paint and the sounds of 'bhajan' mark parts of Ayodhya as the city awaits the laying of first brick of the Ram temple.
जीवन के कुछ सपने पूरा होने में बहुत समय लेते हैं, ऐसा ही एक सपना जो मेरे हृदय के समीप है, अब पूरा हो रहा है।
अयोध्या में श्रीराम जन्मभूमि पर पीएम श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी द्वारा श्रीराम मंदिर का भूमिपूजन सभी भारतीयों के लिए ऐतिहासिक और भावपूर्ण क्षण हैं: श्री लालकृष्ण आडवाणी pic.twitter.com/81SbFV1YXa
— BJP (@BJP4India) August 4, 2020
The bhoomi pujan will be telecast live. Prior to the function, PM Modi will take part in 'pooja' and 'darshan' at Hanuman Garhi. Then he will travel to 'Shree Ram Janmabhoomi' where he will take part in the rituals of 'Bhagwan Shree Ramlalla Virajman'.
Concerned over the spread of coronavirus, authorities in Ayodhya have asked the public not to come to the temple town and instead mark the occasion by celebrating in their homes. Roads leading into the area have been barricaded.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Deepak Kumar said the focus of the force is on maintaining the Covid-19 protocol. "So we are not going to allow any outsider to enter Ayodhya city," he said.
Meanwhile, when PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of the Ram temple, a temple dedicated to demon king Ravan will also reverberate with cries of 'Jai Shri Ram'. The temple, in Bisrakh area, is dedicated to Ravan, the demon king who was slain by Lord Ram in Lanka.
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While the stage is set for the ground-breaking of the grand temple by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, here are some interesting facts that make the temple no less than an architectural marvel.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)
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"Our dream of having the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya at the place of Ram's birth, is at last being realised! After 500 years, thanks to Modi ji, the dream is becoming a reality. Our ancient civilisation & our culture is being showcased to the world. JAI SRI RAM!" tweeted actress and BJP MP Hema Malini.
Our dream of having the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya at the place of Ram’s birth, is at last being realised! After 500 years, thanks to Modi ji, the dream is becoming a reality🙏 Our ancient civilisation & our culture is being showcased to the world. JAI SRI RAM!🙏 pic.twitter.com/Qtr2M9Lsqq
— Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema) August 5, 2020
The digital team of Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, which goes by the name Team Kangana Ranaut on an unverified Twitter account, wrote: "Shri Ram established highest standards of self sacrifice for the well being of others, only mortal bodies die qualities don't die. Today Bharat is establishing Ram Rajya again the most glorious civilisation of all time where Ram is not just a King but a way of life. #JaiShriRam #RamMandirAyodhya."
Shri Ram established highest standards of self sacrifice for the well being of others, only mortal bodies die qualities don’t die...(1/2)#JaiShriRam #RamMandirAyodhya pic.twitter.com/oSXJbajdgV
— Team Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) August 5, 2020
Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar tweeted from his verified account: "May Lord Ram bless us with Peace Prosperity & Unity. #JaiShriRam #AyodhyaBhoomipoojan"
May Lord Ram bless us with Peace Prosperity & Unity. 🙏#JaiShriRam 🚩 #AyodhyaBhoomipoojan 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Ovc8364LJm
— Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) August 5, 2020
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri tweeted from his verified account: "This day has come after years of austerity, sacrifice and struggle. The contribution of religious warriors like you in this is amazing. We remain indebted to you. Jai Shree Ram. Dear Shri @narendramodi you were born to solve Bharat's long pending problems. Sincere Thanks and congratulations for #RamMandirBhoomiPujan."
एक लम्बी तपस्या, त्याग और संघर्ष के बाद आज यह दिन आया। इसमें आप जैसे धर्म योद्धा का योगदान अद्भुत है। हम सब आपके ऋणी है। जय श्री राम।
Dear Shri @narendramodi you were born to solve Bharat’s long pending problems. Sincere Thanks and congratulations for #RamMandirBhoomiPujan pic.twitter.com/yfRCOmVsBe— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) August 5, 2020
Actress and BJP MP Kirron Kher posted from her verified Twitter account: "On the auspicious occasion of Bhoomipujan and foundation stone of the grand temple at the birthplace of Maryada Purushottam Lord Shri Ram ji, let us celebrate, light a lamp and celebrate Diwali. #JaiShreeRam."
मर्यादा पुरुषोत्तम भगवान श्री राम जी की जन्मभूमि पर भव्य मंदिर के भूमिपूजन एवं शिलान्यास के शुभ अवसर पर आइए उत्सव मनाएं, घर घर दीप जलाएं, दीपावली मनाएं । #JaiShreeRam pic.twitter.com/GvGmuc5hjW
— Kirron Kher (@KirronKherBJP) August 5, 2020
Filmmaker Subhash Ghai tweeted on his verified account: "RAM MEANS GOOD SOUL SHRI RAM MEANS A MAN OF VIRTUOSITY and RIGHTEOUSNESS At all occasions. This is purely an awakening step today 4every Indian in form of bhavya RAM MANDIR Congratulations @PMOIndia @narendramodi n every virtuous leaders n people of INDIA."
Filmmaker Anil Sharma tweeted from his verified account: "RAM naam hi jeet hai .. RAM naam hi Preet .. RAM mein ab sare ramein .. RAM hi jeevan sangeet .. JAI SHREE RAM !!!! #AyodhyaBhoomipoojan #RamMandir."
Television actor Nitish Bharadwaj shared from an unverified account: "12:44:08, a new era has dawned. Let this be an era of love, sacrifice, faith, harmony, Vachan Poorti (honouring one's own word), Nyaay (justice) & Maryada (restraint in thought & actions). Let's follow the ideals He established. #RamMandirAyodhya #RamTempleBhoomiPujan #RamMandir."
(IANS)
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Pitra Paksh refers to the period when Hindus express gratitude to their ancestors and no auspicious work is done during this period.
According to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary, Champat Rai, country's leading construction company Larsen and Toubro is all set to lay the foundation of the grand temple, which would come up in 12,879 square metre area on Ram Janmabhoomi campus.
The company is carrying out construction without charging any fee. Around 1,200 pillars will be laid around 100 feet below the surface to prepare the temple's foundation. These pillars will be of stone and no iron will be used. Again, on these pillars, another layer of foundation will be laid.
The construction company has sourced machines from Mumbai and is in the process of sourcing machines from Hyderabad.
The Trust is expected to engage around 100 labourers to lay the foundation of the temple.
All workers will be tested for the coronavirus and thermal-scanned before being allowed entry into the Ram Janmabhoomi campus.
Last week, the Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) had approved two layouts -- one of Ram mandir and another of the entire Ram Janmabhoomi campus.
The ADA also handed over the layouts to the Trust on September 4 after it deposited requisite fee in the development authority's bank account.
The proposed Ram mandir will be 360 feet long, 235 feet wide and 161 feet high and will have five domes.
According to the Trust, the temple's foundation will be laid by using modern techniques so that it could be preserved for over 1,500 years and its structure for 1,000 years.
Experts from the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee and IIT Madras have been roped in to make the temple's foundation strong so that it can withstand earthquakes and storms.
(IANS)
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An FIR has been lodged in this regard at the Ayodhya Kotwali police station. A team of cyber experts has also been asked to investigate the case.
According to the report, money was withdrawn from two banks in Lucknow by cheque cloning.
The matter came to light when the fraudster made a third attempt to withdraw Rs 9.86 lakh from the Bank of Baroda branch.
The bank manager made a verification call to Trust Secretary Champat Rai, who denied having issued any such cheque.
"On further inquiry, it was found that money had bene withdrawn earlier, too," said a police official.
A sum of Rs 2.5 lakhs was withdrawn from the bank on September 1 and then a sum of Rs 3.5 lakh, two days later.
Ayodhya circle officer Rajesh Kumar Rai said that a case had been registered and investigations were underway.
It may be recalled that a fake website that was seeking donations for the Ram temple had come to light a few days ago and the matter was being investigated.
(IANS)
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Sarangi was reportedly on a one-day visit to Baripada in Mayurbhanj on Friday to lay the foundation stone for construction of a Ram Mandir in the town when addressing a presser, she came down heavily on the Naveen government over various issues 'hunting the locals'.
The BJP MP said she wanted to remind Naveen Patnaik about the assurances he had made to the citizens before the 2019 general polls, which haven't even seen the initial stages of implementation as yet.
Here are some of the questions Sarangi had for the State CM, where she has sought open answers on behalf of the general public.
Question 1: "The Chief Minister had announced Rs 5 crore development package of the Jagannath temple in Baripada, the preservation and conservation of which has been a long-standing demand of everyone. What happened to the Rs 5 crore grant and the assurance?"
Question 2: "What is the situation/condition of the flyover over Bagra Road-Station Bazar? You all should go there and see how far the work has gone. That is what reflects the 20-year-rule of this government."
Question 3: "It's more than a year that the Chief Minister had announced to set up a world-class Chhau Dance Research Centre in Baripada to promote dance and culture. Why is it not done yet? Why is the government cheating people by making false promises?"
Question 4: "What happened to the Jambhira Dam project sketched to provide safe drinking water to the locals?"
Question 5: "The CM had promised construction of a ring road around Baripada to protect the town from a possible flood. Where is the flood-shielding ring road?"
Question 6: "This apart, Naveen Patnaik had announced to set up an office of the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) in Rairangpur for administrative purpose. Is there any update on that?"
"Why is there no progress on any of these developmental works despite commitment? All the promises are still hanging fire. People should realise this is what commitment means to a government ruling for over two decades," the MP said targeting the ruling-BJD.
There were rumours doing the rounds that the loose sand under the grounds of Ram Ram Janmabhoomi premises is delaying the foundation process. It was perceived as the great problem created in the way of Ram temple construction: how could the pillars be sturdy under the grounds with the loose sand?
A two-day meeting of the Ram Mandir construction committee started in Ayodhya on Monday. However there was no official briefing done by the Trust regarding the meeting but the sources told that the committee is moving forward for speedy construction of the temple.
Chairman of Ram Mandir construction committee Nripendra Mishra on Monday morning visited the premises of Ram Janmabhoomi along with trustees Dr Anil Mishra , Govind Dev Giri and trust secretary Champat Rai along with the experts of Larsen and Turbo and Tata Consultancy and held a meeting with experts and trustees at the Faizabad circuit house.
Talking to IANS , Trustee of Ram Mandir Trust Dr Anil Mishra said that experts are at work to finalise the foundation process, "Experts have found sand below the ground , but this has not come as a surprise , sand type of soil or loose sand was expected as Ayodhya town is situated on the banks of river Saryu
" Take the example of Taj Mahal , that structure is standing without any damage on the land that has loose sand under the ground without any damaged and sand is the strongest stata for any construction," he added.
"In today's meeting the construction committee chairman and other trustees took stock of the situation from the experts involved in construction," informed Mishra.
The experts are working to ensure that the foundation of Ram temple must be strong enough to last for one thousand years," he added
IIT-Madras is working on the soil testing of foundation of Ram Mandir and the Trust has already started shifting of carved stones from the Karsevakpuram workshop to the temple premises.
According to the Trust - they do not want to rush into things as they planned to build a temple grand enough so that people recognise it as the centre of Hindu faith and strong enough to survive for more than one thousand years.
(With IANS Inputs)