Ram temple consecration: Maharashtra Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis sings Ram Janmabhoomi Movement song at Nagpur

File Photo/PTI

Ahead of the Ram temple consecration ceremony scheduled on Monday, January 22, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis sang the song of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, "Jaago Toh Ek Baar Hindu Jaago Toh," at an event in Nagpur.

The Deputy chief minister took to the stage and sang the song before a huge crowd. The video of Fadnavis singing the song went viral on various social media platforms.

The crowd encouraged him by clapping and singing along with him. Many in the crowd recorded videos of him singing with their mobile phones, newswire ANI reported.

Ram temple consecration will take place on Monday, January 22. On that day, many state governments, including Maharashtra, declared public holidays.

The state's General Administration Department (GAD) issued a Government Resolution (GR) declaring January 22 as a public holiday. The central government also declared a half-day holiday in all its offices, institutions and establishments, including banks, across the country on January 22 to mark the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

A host of leaders and dignitaries from all walks of life have been invited to the grand temple opening in Ayodhya. Vedic rituals for the Ram temple consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya began on January 16, a week before the main ceremony.

The idol of Ram Lalla was placed in the 'Garbha Griha' of the Ram Temple on Friday amid joyous chants of 'Jai Shri Ram.'

Varanasi priest Lakshmi Kant Dixit will officiate the main rituals during the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony, while PM Modi will also perform rituals at the ceremony.

Earlier in the day, Fadnavis posted a picture of himself at the Nagpur railway station where he is seen with karsevaks going to Ayodhya for the Ram temple consecration, saying it brings back old memories.

"When the consecration ceremony is happening in Ayodhya tomorrow, this picture brings back old memories," Fadnavis said while sharing the picture on his X social media handle.

The 53-year-old BJP leader said the picture was sent to him by the Nagpur-based daily Navbharat. The photograph was published in the newspaper.

Asked about Fadnavis' post, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut told reporters in Nashik, "We don't need to give proofs. Questioning Shiv Sena's contribution to the Ram Mandir movement is childish. The picture is taken at the Nagpur railway station while we have photos of Shiv Sainiks on the dome (apparently referring to Babri mosque) in Ayodhya."

The consecration ceremony is being held after the first phase of the temple's construction, made possible by a historic Supreme Court judgment in 2019 on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit.

The Hindu litigants argued that the Babri Mosque was constructed at the site of a temple marking the birthplace of Lord Ram.

In 1992, the 16th century mosque was demolished by 'karsevaks'. (With inputs from agencies)