Bengaluru, Aug 4: Police barricades, yellow banners, walls with a fresh coat of paint and the sounds of bhajan mark parts of Ayodhya as the city awaits its big day Wednesday, when the first brick will be laid for the Ram temple.
Ayodhya is decked up for the bhoomi pujan that will be attended at the Ram Janmabhoomi by 175 people, who figure in a select guest list of seers and politicians topped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Concerned over the spread of coronavirus, the authorities are encouraging others not to come to the temple town, asking them to mark the occasion by celebrating at their homes. The groundbreaking ceremony will be telecast live.
Roads leading to Ayodhya display hoardings with the picture of the proposed Ram temple and of Ram Lalla, the infant Ram, the deity now housed in a makeshift temple.
Around the town’s Hanumangarhi area – named after a well-known temple which Modi will visit on Wednesday – both police sirens and ‘bhajans’ in praise of Ram are heard.
Most of the shops in the locality wear a new look, with their fronts painted in bright yellow. A large number of policemen were deployed there on Tuesday. Some sat in the sweet shops, waiting for their next instructions.
Roads leading into the area are barricaded. Yards of yellow cloth and marigold garlands were being hung on poles.
Even on the day before the event, security checks on vehicles heading to Ayodhya begin from adjoining Barabanki district itself on the Lucknow-Ayodhya road. Policemen take down details, including mobile numbers of the travellers.
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. Prohibitory orders are also in force and not more than four people will be allowed to gather.
“The markets and shops will remain open but with strict adherence to the Covid protocol,” he said. Outsiders will be stopped from entering the city, but Ayodhya residents will be allowed in if they produce any identification document.
“We are also carrying out random checks on people living in Ayodhya to ensure that no outsiders are staying here,” he said.
The city’s temples and mosques will remain open, but no other religious event – except for the bhoomi pujan – will take place on Wednesday.
Pickets have been set up at sensitive points in the city.
Sub-inspector Ram Chandra Yadav and constables Avnish Kumar and Ankit Chaudhary man the Terhi Bazar Chauraha picket near the Ram Janmabhoomi site.
"We are here for the past some days, and were on duty on the Rakshabandhan day. Duty comes first and only after that come other things in life, like festivals," Yadav said.
Mayank Gupta, who runs a restaurant, was handing out food packets to policemen, his customers.
"For the last two months, I have been providing tiffin to them twice a day. There are around 100 policemen to whom I supply tiffin," Gupta said.
Comments
Yedi & Shoba Always to be in Media with no Reason. Why is Media promoting when BJP says Madrasa is giving rise to Terrorist. Media is blowing things out of propotion. What happend with Hemanth Karkere(HK)? Who Killed him? He was telling the news of actual terrorist in India. Hope everyone remembers what HK revealed. I dont support any of the party. But BJP did biggest blunder by doing demonitization. Just to make their money white. People please grow up. See the Petrol price HIKE happening. Why SHELL petrol does not have Subisidy? Why GST is not introduced in Petrol ? There are so many things to think about. These people play with law & order. See yeddy is so confident giving Dhamki to Police. Only god can Save us !!!
The common man of India is struggling for fulfilling his basic needs, he wants peace, he does not need leaders who divide society on caste and religious grounds and create chaos and hatred in the country.
Well said, Most of the BJP leaders are responsible to created violation.
Statistics show that more Indians have been killed by RSS than by Pakistani terrorists.
Who then is worse?
Is she a member of parliment or she a member of RSS, I havent seen any statement from shobha who has talked of development from her mouth. every time her statement is about RSS/sangh parivar, Does she deserve a MP seat? its better she owes her full time to RSS intead of being a MP. Shame on her she represents the whole constituency not only RSS AND SANGH PARIVAR TERRORISTS
what STRATERGY to DISTURB PEACE OF OUR NAMMA NADU KARNATAKA
Fact is a fact, why Amit shah is not in the group,who is the main culprit holding 14 muderes on his head
"BJP gay nachgayne Illa",
if they have little shame left all these leadres would have not come to street with head's down for their super leaders who committed the crimes,
Indirectly it shows that they confirms what Mr Siddaramaih says..!!!
"nanu BJP nanu RSS", not full
"nanu BJP nanu RSS nanu BrahminBaniaJumlaParty", better!!!
Hindus beware of Brahmin Domination in RSS, they dominated exploited non-brahmins for past 5000 years, dont let them control us!!!
All are equal in Democracy, RSS is a Rascist organisation, majority leaders are Brahmins! Dont forget!!!
Congis are ######s, they were responsible for 1984.
Bjp are ######s, they were responsible for 1992, 2002.
Indira made a political decision, bad decision BUt a political one.
Advani, Joshi, Uma bharati gave speeches in Ayodhya which started riots killing of 3000 people.
Both parties have blood on their hands.
Both need to be sacked and someone better needs to be brought in.
@Truth
Excellent question. The current vicious atmosphere is because of them
Who perpetrated 1984 anti-sikh riots? RSS?
Good decision. Please go and sit in jail.
Nanu shoba matthu yediyurappa naau bjp rss bajarang te ... r.. r ... t ect.....
Another comedy by Sho-bokka. Please try a good mimicry
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