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
If we Muslims bow down , We bow down to only the lord of the worlds, a creator who created U, me and all that exists.
We must bow down in humility to Almighty God only, not his creation which is man made.
Physically we should bow down somewhere, and naturally to some direction. If we were to do it right now, we would be bowing towards a random direction. our physical presence on earth forces this upon us as a prostrating Believer to GOD almighty, whether you like it or not.
The bowing down to God Almighty in the direction of the KAABA or the city of Mecca in general is a way to UNIFY all MUSLIMS to bow down to God Almighty, as one body and one unity, towards ONE DIRECTION & towards the mosque.
As to WORSHIPING the cubic black bldg. the Kaaba, We absolutely DO NOT WORSHIP IT.
I will repeat what aharkul mentioned : Umar RA came near the black stone and kissed it and said \ NO doubt, I know that YOU are a STONE and Can neither Benefit anyone NOR Harm anyone. Had i not seen ALLAH's apostel (Prophet Muhammed pbuh) kissing you, I would not have kissed YOU.
While there are traditions about kissing or touching the stone, its real significance is a MARKER of the point at which one starts the tawaaf (Circumambulation) .. A stone is just a stone."
Mr. Nothing But True, Listen Why Muslim Kissing the black stone in KAABHA because our Great Prophet (S.A) kissed the black stone which is braught from Heavan by Angels. Becuase of this only all Muslim Brother's and Sisters kissing Black Stone of Kaabha following the sunnah of Our Prophet (S.A.) Nothing Else.
Umer (R.A) before kissing the black stone said that there is no any special with you . I am kissing because our prophet (S.A.) kissed you. So Everyone should worship one god and not the creation.
Mr. Reality..you look like \Shishlya\" of Mr. Zoker Naik..before preaching others about Creator and Creation, why can't you apply this principle to yourself? WHY ARE YOU KNEELING TOWARDS AND KISSING \"THE BLACK STONE\" IN KAABA? Please throw the stone to Garbage..."
NA TASYA PRATIMA ASTI... There is no image of God
Bhagwad Geeta says in Chapter 7 Verse 20.
Those whose intelligence has been STOLEN by MATERIAL desires WORSHIP demigods besides the TRUE GOD.
It is mentioned in chandogya upanishad, Propathaka chapter 6, Khanda seciton 2, Shloka
EKAM EVADITIYAM : He is ONE only without a second.
Then Y are worshiping idols and different man made creative gods which cannot help themselves.. How can you guys not using your intellect when your OWN SCRIPTURES says not to DO SO>>>
Its HIgh time hindu brothers should know the REALITY and consequences it will take when we ignore the CREATOR and worship the CREATION.
WORSHIP THE CREATOR NOT HIS CREATION.
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