On October 13, the memory of kar sevaks shall be honoured by the lighting of diyas at the Ram Pauri at Ayodhya.
On October 30, 1990, and November 2 — the same year, thousands of kar sevaks marched to Ayodhya on a call given by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. These dates marked a culmination of Lal Krishna Advani’s nationwide rath yatra which pushed the demand for a Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The then chief minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav, had ordered a firing on the kar sevaks.
Announcing the ceremony today, Champat Rai, of the Sri Ramjanmbhoomi Teerth General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, said that as a struggle of many years was reaching its conclusion, it was important to remember those who had made the dream of a Ram Mandir possible.
The Ram Pauri refers to a series of ghats on the banks of the river Sarayu.
Rai also announced that Sri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswathi of the Kanchi Kamkoti Peeth would offer prayers for the departed souls during Navratri.
The nine-day festival of Navratri starts on October 15.
Clarifying the position of foreign donations for the Ram Mandir, Rai said that the necessary process of permissions was still underway. “As soon as permissions are received, the Trust shall start accepting donations. Everything will be in the knowledge of the government of India and all rules shall be followed”, said Rai.
The trust will also get priests trained for the all-important pran pratishtha (infusing of life into an idol) ceremony. More than 200 VHP workers will fan out to 45 regions with the rice, turmeric and ghee used in the ceremony for distribution to devotees.
While invitation cards for the ceremony will be printed in various languages, workers will also urge people to carry out pran pratishtha prayers in temples in their respective villages/cities.
In addition to the saints who have been invited for the initial round of darshan which shall stretch from January 26 to February 22, devotees from abroad will also be invited.
