The temple town of Ayodhya is all set for the much-awaited Ram temple consecration ceremony, which will be held in a grand way on Monday. The mammoth event will see VVIPS, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and eminent people from all walks converging at this town in Uttar Pradesh.
With the world's focus now on the temple town, Ayodhya has been decked up for the event. Besides sporting a religious aura, Ayodhya is witnessing fool-proof security with a multi-layered security plan in place.
Besides police personnel deployed across the city, the security arrangements will involve personnel of central security agencies. They include the Special Protection Group (SPG), National Security Guards (NSG), para commandos of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), UP Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), UP Special Task Force (STF), and specially-trained personnel of UP security headquarters, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), UP Special Security Force (UPSSF) as well as Intelligence Bureau sleuths.
UPSSF commandos, trained by NSG, have already been deployed in vantage positions in and around the temple complex. They have been provided training in highly specialised anti-terror tactics and intervention drills to ward off all possible security threats.
An anti-drone system has been installed to counter aerial threats during the programme. Movable barriers with barbed wires attached to them have been put up at every prominent crossroad in the temple city to regulate traffic, especially during VVIP movements.
Multiple NDRF teams trained to tackle chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attacks, drowning incidents and disasters like earthquakes have also been deployed.
Police personnel patrol on a boat on the Sarayu river, ahead of the Ram temple consecration ceremony |
PTI
Set for emergency
The state government has made all arrangements to deal with any health emergency, considering the cold wave gripping the town. All city-based hospitals and the medical college have set aside beds for the thousands who pour into the city for the next two days. Specialists from AIIMS have provided focused emergency response training to doctors at healthcare institutions.
Illuminations and artworks
The grand Ram temple has been decorated with "rich stocks" of flowers and special lights and the entire city is drenched in religious fervour or as is the common refrain among the locals, "Ayodhya Rammay ho raha hai".
Streetlights on flyovers have been decorated with artworks depicting Lord Ram, including cutouts of bow and arrow, and ornamental lamp posts carry designs themed on the traditional "Ramanandi tilak".
"Shubh Ghadi Aayi", "Taiyar hai Ayodhya dham, virajenge Shree Ram" and "Ram fir lautenge", "Ayodhya me Ram rajya" are among the slogans on posters and hoardings splashed across the city.
Various verses from the Ramayana are also printed on posters at prominent places like the Ram Marg, the Saryu River bank and Lata Mangeshkar Chowk. Ramlilas, Bhagwat Kathas, Bhajan sandhyas and cultural programmes are going on at different places here. The banks of the Saryu River are also decked up where thousands flock every evening for the "aarti".
(With PTI inputs)
