Ram Temple consecration: National Democratic Alliance plans grand celebration in Rahul Gandhi's Wayanad constituency

Under construction Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Pic/PTI

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Party is planning to celebrate the Ram Temple consecration ceremony, being organised in Ayodhya, in a grand manner in Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, represented by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Union Minister Prakash Javadekar will join National Democratic Party leaders at a Lord Ram Temple in the hill district to attend the Ram Temple consecration ceremony being organised in Ayodhya, which will be telecast live on January 22, party sources said here on Friday.

They will watch the live telecast of the Ram Temple consecration ceremony at the Ponkuzhi Sree Rama Temple.

Besides Javadekar and local Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, the event will be attended by NDA state convenor Thushar Vellappally, a Bharatiya Janata Party source told PTI.

Vellappally, son of Eazhava community leader and SNDP yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan, was the National Democratic Alliance candidate in the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency when Gandhi contested the 2019 election.

He is the leader of the Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Kerala.

Bharatiya Janata Party sources highlight the significance of the event being held at the Kerala temple, located on the Sulthan Bathery-Mysore Road, which, according to them, is closely connected to the Ramayana.

Also read: Gen Z guide to Ram Mandir consecration vocabulary

The event, organised in Gandhi's constituency, is also intended to send a nationwide message to the Congress party and its leadership, who have rejected an invitation to attend the temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, according to sources.

The temple is located in a calm and peaceful area near the banks of the Ponkuzhi River, approximately 4 km away from the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary. The primary deities worshipped at this temple are Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Lord Lakshman and Lord Hanuman.

Meanwhile, the Centre on Thursday announced that all central government offices will be closed for half-day on January 22 for the Pran Pratishta ceremony of Ram Lalla idol at Ayodhya Ram Temple.

As per the notification issued by the Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, all Central Government offices, Central Institutions and Central Industrial Establishments across the country shall remain closed for half a day till 02:30 pm.

"The Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha at Ayodhya will be celebrated on January 22, 2024, across India. To enable employees in the celebrations, it has been decided that all Central Government Offices, Central Institutions and Central Industrial Establishments throughout India will be closed for half a day till 14:30 hours on January 22, 2024," the notification read. (With inputs from PTI)