New Delhi: The invitation cards for the January 22 consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya mirror the grandeur of the temple itself, featuring an impressive image of the structure and a depiction of a young Lord Ram.
Besides the artistically designed large-size cards, the invitations contain a booklet providing brief profiles of key names involved in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
As Ayodhya prepares for the “Pran Pratishtha” at the temple on January 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the ceremony.
The temple trust, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, has invited over 7,000 people, including cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, and industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, according to official sources. The invitation cards are currently being delivered.
A trust official said to Press Trust of India that “invitation cards have been printed in both Hindi and English.”
The guest list extends to several sadhus, seers, and some foreign invitees. Each invitation set comprises the main invitation card, the “Pran Pratishtha” program card, and a booklet detailing the journey of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and the individuals who played a role in it, directly or indirectly.
The invitation specifies that the auspicious time for the “Pran Pratishtha” is 12:20 pm on Monday, January 22, 2024.
The ceremony card mentioned that the consecration will occur in the esteemed presence of “Prime Minister, Bharat” Narendra Modi, RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and the president of the temple trust, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das.
Actors Arun Govil and Dipika Chikhlia, renowned for portraying Lord Ram and Goddess Sita in the iconic TV serial “Ramayan,” have also received invitations to the ceremony.
Besides dignitaries and celebrities, the trust has extended invitations to 4,000 seers from various parts of the country.
The trust’s general secretary, Champat Rai, previously mentioned, “Family members of the 50 karsevaks who lost their lives during the Ram temple movement have also been invited. Invitations have also been sent to judges, scientists, writers, and poets.”
The main invitation card features images of the temple and a graphic representation of the deity “Baalrup Prabhu Ram,” portrayed in a youthful form with royal attire, standing on a lotus, holding a bow and arrow, with royal locks framing the divine face.
The subsequent page of the main invitation card provides details about the ceremony, including the auspicious event of “Ram Lala’s return to the original seat at the new grand temple-home.”
Another page in the main invitation card addresses the historical struggle to construct the temple.
The booklet containing profiles of those involved in the Ram temple movement includes artistic portraits of personalities such as seer Devraha Baba Ji Maharaj, Mahant Abhiram Das, Paramhans Ramchandradas, KK Nayar, Thakur Gurudutt Singh: Rajendra Singh ‘Rajju Bhaiya,’ and Ashok Singhal, who later served as the president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.
Rai previously mentioned that the Ram temple complex, built in the traditional Nagara style, will be 380 feet in length (east-west direction), 250 feet in width, and 161 feet in height. Each floor will be 20 feet high, featuring a total of 392 pillars and 44 gates.
The cover of the main invitation card showcases a silhouetted image of the upcoming Ram temple, along with the inscriptions ‘Shree Ram Dham’ and ‘Ayodhya.’ Additionally, “Invitation Extraordinaire” or “Apoorva Anadik Nimantran” (Hindi) is printed on the cover of the main invite.