India's Ayodhya Ram Mandir temple to be inaugurated by Modi
By Rhea Mogul, Vedika Sud, Sania Farooqui, Aishwarya S Iyer and Jerome Taylor, CNN
Updated 11:40 p.m. ET, January 21, 2024
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1 min ago
In pictures: Tens of thousands arrive in Ayodhya to celebrate the Ram Mandir's inauguration
From CNN Staff in Ayodhya
Pious Hindus have traveled hundreds of kilometers across India to celebrate the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, turning the streets of the ancient town into a festival of lights and color as people eagerly wait to enter the vast temple's complex.
A Hindu devotee seen with his face painted in Ayodhya, India, on January 22. Vedika Sud/CNN
Devotees can be seen with the phrase "Jai Shree Ram" (Glory to Lord Ram) stamped on their faces as they walk through the town.
Workers decorate a temple dedicated to Hindu deity Lord Ram the day before it's grand opening in Ayodhya, India, on January 21. Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP
Temples have been lit up and adorned with flowers ahead of Monday's ceremony, as devotees arrive in the ancient town and offer gifts to gods and goddesses within.
Hindu devotees dance during a procession as they arrive in Ayodhya, India, on January 21. Adnan Abidi/Reuters
10 min ago
India's leader is overseeing the historic inauguration of a controversial temple. Here's what you need to know
From CNN staff
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing to inaugurate a vast Hindu temple on the site of a 16th century mosque that was demolished by a large crowd of Hindu hardliners in 1992.
The controversial ceremony at the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya, expected to be attended by thousands of dignitaries, is a crowing moment for Modi's Hindu nationalist ambitions as he seeks to win a rare third term in just a few months time.
But for many of the country's Muslims, the temple's inauguration is a painful reminder of the religious divisions that they fear are deepening in India as Modi pulls the country away from its secular foundations.
Here's what you need to know:
The controversy: The site of the temple was once home to the Babri Masjid, a 16th century mosque, built during Mughal rule. But many Hindus believe the mosque was built on the ruins of a Hindu temple, allegedly destroyed by Babar, the first Mughal emperor of South Asia. In 1992, spurred on by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other right-wing groups, Hindu hardliners attacked the mosque with hammers, triggering widespread communal violence that killed more than 2,000 nationwide. India’s Supreme Court in 2019 granted Hindus permission to build the temple on the contested site, ending the dispute. It was seen as a victory for Modi and his supporters but was a blow to many Muslims for whom the destruction of the Babri Masjid remains a source of deep tension and loss.
The unveiling of a new idol: An idol of Lord Ram, one of Hinduism’s most revered deities, will be unveiled inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, during the during the Pran Pratishtha or consecration ceremony presided over by Modi and broadcast to millions. More than 7,000 people have been invited to attend the ceremony in person, including many high-profile politicians and celebrities who are flying in from across the vast country to take part.
Pain and anxiety among India's Muslims: Ayodhya is home to some 3 million people, including about 500,000 Muslims – and some of them are fearful of attacks on the day of the temple’s inauguration. As crowds arrive for the ceremonies, there is apprehension among Ayodhya’s Muslims, who fear a repeat of 1992's violence. Many have shared messages of support to one another on social media, with WhatsApp messages urging the community to refrain from traveling on public trains and buses for their own safety.
45 min ago
Hindu devotees flock to witness the inauguration of the Ram Temple
From CNN's Vedika Sud, Sania Farooqui and Vijay Bedi in Ayodhya
Urmila Chandravanshi poses for a picture. Vedika Sud/CNN
Tens of thousands of pious Hindus are thronging the small town of Ayodhya in a bid to catch a glimpse of the much-anticipated Ram idol in the new temple.
The temple doesn't open to the public until Tuesday but it is expected to draw vast crowds once that happens.
Among those who made the journey is 90-year-old Urmila Chandravanshi, who has traveled more than 700 kilometers from the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh.
Clapping and chanting "victory to Lord Ram," she said she was thrilled to be in Ayodhya and credits Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the opening of the temple.
"I have come here to seek blessings from Lord Ram and Sita, I am very happy today," she said.
Dasharath Singh Rajput poses for a picture. Vedika Sud/CNN
Saffron flags are flying high and marigold flowers adorn building entrances as groups make their way through the streets of the ancient town.
Dasharath Singh Rajput, who has also traveled from Chhattisgarh, applauded Modi for undertaking his 11-day religious ritual.
Dressed in a large coat with a saffron shawl draped around his neck, a color associated with Hinduism, he praised Modi for his politics.
"This temple is all thanks to the Prime Minster and Yogi (Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Yogi Adityanath). I give credit to the prime minister because he is our chief. After the President, he is the one who does everything," Rajput said.
Another devotee, Anupawananda Swami, 86, called the temple's opening a "grand success" and said he was happy that Modi has been building temples around India.
53 min ago
Why is the temple so controversial?
From CNN's Rhea Mogul
The compound and the building of a temple dedicated to Hindu deity Lord Ram are decorated with flowers the day before the temple's grand opening in Ayodhya, India, on Sunday. Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP
The site of the temple was once home to the Babri Masjid, a 16th century mosque, built by the Mughal empire that ruled India from 1526 to 1858.
But the location has been disputed for decades.
Many Hindus believe the Babri Masjid was built on the ruins of a Hindu temple, allegedly destroyed by Babar, the first Mughal emperor of South Asia. The site is significant to them because they believe it’s the birthplace of Lord Ram, one of Hinduism’s most important deities.
Hindu nationalist groups had for years campaigned to demolish the mosque to build a temple in its place. In 1992, spurred on by the BJP and other right-wing groups, Hindu hardliners attacked it with hammers, triggering widespread communal violence.
Hindu fundamentalists attack the wall of the 16th century Babri Masjid mosque with iron rods at a disputed holy site in the city of Ayodhya in 1992. Douglas E. Curran/AFP/Getty Images
Dozens of temples and mosques were also targeted in a series of revenge attacks that killed more than 2,000 people nationwide. The violence was some of worst seen in India since the bloody clashes that accompanied partition following independence in 1947.
In the following years, Hindu nationalists rallied to build the Ram Mandir on the site of the destroyed mosque, setting the stage for an emotional and politically charged showdown that lasted decades.
1 min ago
A divisive Supreme Court ruling finally paved the way for Ayodhya temple
From CNN's Rhea Mogul
In 2019, India’s Supreme Court granted Hindus permission to build the temple on the contested site, ending the dispute.
It was seen as a victory for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his supporters but was a blow to many Muslims for whom the destruction of the Babri Masjid remains a source of tension and an example of how India’s centuries of Islamic history is being eroded by Hindu nationalist revisionism.
When the Supreme Court delivered its verdict, Modi said the decision had “brought a new dawn” for the nation and would lead to the “creation of a new India.”
But critics say the verdict tore India away from the secular founding principles and that the building of the temple in Ayodhya is the crowning achievement in the BJP’s multi-decade campaign to transform the country.
The 2019 Supreme Court order that paved the way for the construction of the Ram temple also said authorities must set aside land for a mosque to be built about 25 kilometers (15 miles) away.
But construction of the mosque is not expected to begin until May, and Ayodhya’s Muslims continue to feel a sense of hopelessness.
1 hr 8 min ago
Ayodhya's Muslims anxious as Ram Temple inauguration nears
From CNN's Aishwayra S Iyer
Residents installed saffron flags of the roof of their houses in Ayodhya, India on January 21. Deepak Gupta/Hindustan Times/Getty Images
Saffron flags are flying in the majority Hindu town of Aydohya as excited locals prepare to host Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the inauguration of a new multimillion dollar temple.
But like many of the town’s 500,000 Muslims, 65-year-old Maulana Badshah Khan says he’ll be staying at home.
He fears a repeat of the religious violence that erupted more than 30 years ago, when Hindu nationalists destroyed the Babri Masjid, a 16th century mosque, triggering riots across the country.
On Monday, Modi will officially open the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, a lavish temple built on the same site that analysts say is a monument to Hindu nationalist ambition.
Khan says he believes the celebration is a clear sign of how Muslims is becoming marginalized under the leadership of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"The wounds of Babri Mosque’s demolition will always be there. Even if we feel despondent about voicing them," said Khan.
“The temple holds the symbolic value of showing the Muslims their place in New India."
India's opposition is boycotting the festivities. Here's why
From CNN's Rhea Mogul
The BJP’s main opposition, the Indian National Congress, has announced it will boycott the inauguration, claiming the event is being politicized by the BJP.
Responding to the Congress’ decision to miss the ceremony, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi told reporters it was driven by “jealousy, malice and inferiority complex towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” adding that the party is opposing the “country” and “god.”
Some prominent Muslim lawmakers have also criticized the inauguration of the temple, lamenting the loss of the Babri mosque where their ancestors recited the Quran hundreds of years ago.
“Young people, we have lost our Masjid (mosque) and you are seeing what is being done there,” said Asaduddin Owaisi, chief of the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen political party, to his followers during a speech earlier this month. “Don’t you have pain in your hearts?”
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is inaugurating a large Hindu temple on the site of a 16th century mosque that was demolished by a Hindu hardliners in 1992.
The Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya is the crowning glory of Modi's Hindu nationalist ambition and is expected to boost his credentials in this year's election.
An idol of Lord Ram, one of Hinduism's most revered deities, will be unveiled in a consecration ceremony conducted by Modi and broadcast to millions.
Many Hindus will be celebrating the opening of the much-awaited complex, which is seen by them as the birthplace of Ram. But for the country's minority Muslim population, it's a painful reminder of religious divisions that have grown more pronounced under Modi's rule.
Pious Hindus have traveled hundreds of kilometers across India to celebrate the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, turning the streets of the ancient town into a festival of lights and color as people eagerly wait to enter the vast temple's complex.
A Hindu devotee seen with his face painted in Ayodhya, India, on January 22. Vedika Sud/CNN
Devotees can be seen with the phrase "Jai Shree Ram" (Glory to Lord Ram) stamped on their faces as they walk through the town.
Workers decorate a temple dedicated to Hindu deity Lord Ram the day before it's grand opening in Ayodhya, India, on January 21. Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP
Temples have been lit up and adorned with flowers ahead of Monday's ceremony, as devotees arrive in the ancient town and offer gifts to gods and goddesses within.
Hindu devotees dance during a procession as they arrive in Ayodhya, India, on January 21. Adnan Abidi/Reuters
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing to inaugurate a vast Hindu temple on the site of a 16th century mosque that was demolished by a large crowd of Hindu hardliners in 1992.
The controversial ceremony at the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya, expected to be attended by thousands of dignitaries, is a crowing moment for Modi's Hindu nationalist ambitions as he seeks to win a rare third term in just a few months time.
But for many of the country's Muslims, the temple's inauguration is a painful reminder of the religious divisions that they fear are deepening in India as Modi pulls the country away from its secular foundations.
Here's what you need to know:
The controversy: The site of the temple was once home to the Babri Masjid, a 16th century mosque, built during Mughal rule. But many Hindus believe the mosque was built on the ruins of a Hindu temple, allegedly destroyed by Babar, the first Mughal emperor of South Asia. In 1992, spurred on by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other right-wing groups, Hindu hardliners attacked the mosque with hammers, triggering widespread communal violence that killed more than 2,000 nationwide. India’s Supreme Court in 2019 granted Hindus permission to build the temple on the contested site, ending the dispute. It was seen as a victory for Modi and his supporters but was a blow to many Muslims for whom the destruction of the Babri Masjid remains a source of deep tension and loss.
The unveiling of a new idol: An idol of Lord Ram, one of Hinduism’s most revered deities, will be unveiled inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, during the during the Pran Pratishtha or consecration ceremony presided over by Modi and broadcast to millions. More than 7,000 people have been invited to attend the ceremony in person, including many high-profile politicians and celebrities who are flying in from across the vast country to take part.
Pain and anxiety among India's Muslims: Ayodhya is home to some 3 million people, including about 500,000 Muslims – and some of them are fearful of attacks on the day of the temple’s inauguration. As crowds arrive for the ceremonies, there is apprehension among Ayodhya’s Muslims, who fear a repeat of 1992's violence. Many have shared messages of support to one another on social media, with WhatsApp messages urging the community to refrain from traveling on public trains and buses for their own safety.
Urmila Chandravanshi poses for a picture. Vedika Sud/CNN
Tens of thousands of pious Hindus are thronging the small town of Ayodhya in a bid to catch a glimpse of the much-anticipated Ram idol in the new temple.
The temple doesn't open to the public until Tuesday but it is expected to draw vast crowds once that happens.
Among those who made the journey is 90-year-old Urmila Chandravanshi, who has traveled more than 700 kilometers from the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh.
Clapping and chanting "victory to Lord Ram," she said she was thrilled to be in Ayodhya and credits Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the opening of the temple.
"I have come here to seek blessings from Lord Ram and Sita, I am very happy today," she said.
Dasharath Singh Rajput poses for a picture. Vedika Sud/CNN
Saffron flags are flying high and marigold flowers adorn building entrances as groups make their way through the streets of the ancient town.
Dasharath Singh Rajput, who has also traveled from Chhattisgarh, applauded Modi for undertaking his 11-day religious ritual.
Dressed in a large coat with a saffron shawl draped around his neck, a color associated with Hinduism, he praised Modi for his politics.
"This temple is all thanks to the Prime Minster and Yogi (Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Yogi Adityanath). I give credit to the prime minister because he is our chief. After the President, he is the one who does everything," Rajput said.
Another devotee, Anupawananda Swami, 86, called the temple's opening a "grand success" and said he was happy that Modi has been building temples around India.
The compound and the building of a temple dedicated to Hindu deity Lord Ram are decorated with flowers the day before the temple's grand opening in Ayodhya, India, on Sunday. Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP
The site of the temple was once home to the Babri Masjid, a 16th century mosque, built by the Mughal empire that ruled India from 1526 to 1858.
But the location has been disputed for decades.
Many Hindus believe the Babri Masjid was built on the ruins of a Hindu temple, allegedly destroyed by Babar, the first Mughal emperor of South Asia. The site is significant to them because they believe it’s the birthplace of Lord Ram, one of Hinduism’s most important deities.
Hindu nationalist groups had for years campaigned to demolish the mosque to build a temple in its place. In 1992, spurred on by the BJP and other right-wing groups, Hindu hardliners attacked it with hammers, triggering widespread communal violence.
Hindu fundamentalists attack the wall of the 16th century Babri Masjid mosque with iron rods at a disputed holy site in the city of Ayodhya in 1992. Douglas E. Curran/AFP/Getty Images
Dozens of temples and mosques were also targeted in a series of revenge attacks that killed more than 2,000 people nationwide. The violence was some of worst seen in India since the bloody clashes that accompanied partition following independence in 1947.
In the following years, Hindu nationalists rallied to build the Ram Mandir on the site of the destroyed mosque, setting the stage for an emotional and politically charged showdown that lasted decades.
In 2019, India’s Supreme Court granted Hindus permission to build the temple on the contested site, ending the dispute.
It was seen as a victory for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his supporters but was a blow to many Muslims for whom the destruction of the Babri Masjid remains a source of tension and an example of how India’s centuries of Islamic history is being eroded by Hindu nationalist revisionism.
When the Supreme Court delivered its verdict, Modi said the decision had “brought a new dawn” for the nation and would lead to the “creation of a new India.”
But critics say the verdict tore India away from the secular founding principles and that the building of the temple in Ayodhya is the crowning achievement in the BJP’s multi-decade campaign to transform the country.
The 2019 Supreme Court order that paved the way for the construction of the Ram temple also said authorities must set aside land for a mosque to be built about 25 kilometers (15 miles) away.
But construction of the mosque is not expected to begin until May, and Ayodhya’s Muslims continue to feel a sense of hopelessness.
Residents installed saffron flags of the roof of their houses in Ayodhya, India on January 21. Deepak Gupta/Hindustan Times/Getty Images
Saffron flags are flying in the majority Hindu town of Aydohya as excited locals prepare to host Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the inauguration of a new multimillion dollar temple.
But like many of the town’s 500,000 Muslims, 65-year-old Maulana Badshah Khan says he’ll be staying at home.
He fears a repeat of the religious violence that erupted more than 30 years ago, when Hindu nationalists destroyed the Babri Masjid, a 16th century mosque, triggering riots across the country.
On Monday, Modi will officially open the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, a lavish temple built on the same site that analysts say is a monument to Hindu nationalist ambition.
Khan says he believes the celebration is a clear sign of how Muslims is becoming marginalized under the leadership of Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"The wounds of Babri Mosque’s demolition will always be there. Even if we feel despondent about voicing them," said Khan.
“The temple holds the symbolic value of showing the Muslims their place in New India."
The BJP’s main opposition, the Indian National Congress, has announced it will boycott the inauguration, claiming the event is being politicized by the BJP.
Responding to the Congress’ decision to miss the ceremony, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi told reporters it was driven by “jealousy, malice and inferiority complex towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” adding that the party is opposing the “country” and “god.”
Some prominent Muslim lawmakers have also criticized the inauguration of the temple, lamenting the loss of the Babri mosque where their ancestors recited the Quran hundreds of years ago.
“Young people, we have lost our Masjid (mosque) and you are seeing what is being done there,” said Asaduddin Owaisi, chief of the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen political party, to his followers during a speech earlier this month. “Don’t you have pain in your hearts?”
