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
She is the best External Foreign Minister india ever had. Lets pray for her speedy recovery. India need her badly.
Some sarcastic comments by our dignified readers are unwarranted, as an External Affairs Minster she is doing commendable job unlike her predecessor.
We need to learn to appreciate people irrespective of their political affiliation and/or faith. I pray to Almighty to give her good health to serve India and Indians living abroad for many years to come.
Prophet Muhammad pbuh taught us a beautiful DUA to ask with our CREATOR, who Created the heavens & the earth and all that is in between them.
\ O ALLAH, Lord of MANKIND ! Remove our suffering, Heal us as YOU are the HEALER, and None can HEAL but YOU. I beg YOU to bring about healing that leaves behind no Ailment....
Alhamdullillah (Thanks & praise is due to ALLAH) for guiding me on the knowledge that benefits in our LIFE.."
Poor lady..... the Isa visa issue will start haunting her....before that she wants to get herself admitted so that she donot have to face the media and opposition for ANOTHER BLUNDER by her team (first one was Lalit Modi visa)
She is doing a good job as a foreign minister....may God help her to recover speedily ...
oops ...MAY b terrorist attack on her chest...
Wholeheartedly Pray for Early Recovery. Sushma is one of the Best Foreign Minister in India, ever had. And wonderfully she is Human, though she is in BJP!
Let her go to England to get treated when Lalit Modi and Vijay Malia will pay the bill. Vasundra Raji will be her attender.
Why an VIP room of AIIMS is wasted for such unpatriotic people.
She is an able minister and wish to thank for her services to my nation. I do not see her political color but she has worked beyond the narrow confines of political outlook. May God bless her good health.
Hope this capable and very able minister recovers soon. best external affairs minister in india's history.
You are the pride of India madam! Let God give you all the strength !
She hardly does her job as a minister of external affairs since modi is doing all the travelling not giving her a chance to make her mark as mea. She is probably stressed out because of that.
Get well soon mam. Nation needs you!!
Get well soon madam.
Stress of The Job.
Disturbed to hear that EAM Smt @SushmaSwaraj ji has been admitted to AIIMS. Wish her speedy recovery & good health.
Add new comment