PM Modi Inaugurates Ayodhya Ram Mandir on Razed Babri Mosque Site

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today,  January 22,  2024,  officially inaugurated the much-anticipated Ram Mandir,  a grand Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ram,  in the holy city of Ayodhya. The opening of the temple is a big deal because it brings an end to a fight over the land that's lasted for many years. This land used to be the site of a mosque called Babri Masjid,  which was built in the 1500s.

(Image credit: India's Press Information Bureau/REUTERS) PM Modi Inaugurates Ayodhya Ram Mandir on Razed Babri Mosque Site

Today, Ayodhya has not only witnessed the Pran Pratishtha of the sacred idol of Prabhu Shri Ram, but also the 'Pran Pratishtha' of the unwavering faith in Indian culture manifested in the form of Prabhu Shri Ram.

- PM @narendramodi #राम_का_भव्य_धाम pic.twitter.com/rpp4ZJ3uyP

— BJP (@BJP4India) January 22, 2024

“Our Lord Ram has arrived after centuries of wait,”  Modi said in a speech after the ceremony,  receiving a resounding applause from thousands of attendees. He said the temple was built after “countless sacrifices” and is testament to a rising India “breaking the shackles of slave mentality.” “Jan. 22, 2024,  is not merely a date but marks the dawn of a new era,”  Modi said.

Read More: Ayodhya Glistens as Majestic Ram Lalla Idol is Adorned with Diamonds, Rubies, and Golden Arms

A Site Steeped in Controversy

The construction of the Ram Mandir stands on the same ground where the Babri Masjid stood before its demolition in 1992 by Hindu mobs,  triggering nationwide riots that claimed nearly 2,000 lives. Hindus believe Lord Ram,  a revered deity,  was born at the exact spot,  while Muslims viewed the Babri Masjid as a significant religious site for centuries.

Legal Tussle and Supreme Court Verdict

Following the demolition,  a protracted legal battle ensued,  culminating in the Supreme Court's 2019 verdict awarding the disputed land to the Hindu trust overseeing the Ram Mandir construction. The court also instructed the government to provide different land for building a new mosque.

A Grand Inauguration

The inauguration ceremony,  attended by thousands of invited guests,  including politicians,  religious leaders,  and celebrities,  was a spectacle of pomp and devotion. Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone in 2020,  and the intricate carving and construction of the three-story, marble-and-sandstone temple has been underway ever since.

Reactions and Implications

The opening of the Ram Mandir is going to cause big changes in India,  especially in how different religions get along and in the next national elections in 2024. We'll have to wait and see how the government handles the situation delicately to keep things peaceful and harmonious after all these years of disagreement.