In the lead-up to the grand inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, scheduled for January 22, 2024, the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra is in the process of distributing invitations for the consecration ceremony of ‘Ram Lalla.’ The event, known as ‘Pran Pratistha,’ is expected to draw a crowd of nearly 6,000 individuals, including a diverse array of guests.
The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra has extended invitations to approximately 8,000 guests, encompassing industrialists, cricketers, actors, Hindu priests, army officers, musicians, and more.
Notable figures on the guest list include industrialists Gautam Adani, Mukesh Ambani, and Ratan Tata, as well as actors Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar.
Renowned cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli are also among the invited, along with saints, priests, Shankaracharyas, religious leaders, and esteemed individuals from various fields.
Invitations have been extended to journalists who played a role in making “the Ram temple a reality”, including Sudhir Choudhary, Rajat Sharma, Arnab Goswami, Shweta Singh, Dainik Bhaskar MD Sudhir Agarwal, Jagran Prakashan CEO Sanjay Gupta, and non-executive chairman Mahendra Mohan Gupta. India Today editor-in-chief Aroon Purie is also among the anticipated invitees.
“We have invited journalists who have supported us through our journey. We have invited them formally to attend the event and take darshan as without them this struggle for Ram mandir was incomplete,” a VHP worker told ThePrint.
The distribution of invitations involves traditional mail, along with PDF versions shared via WhatsApp. Recipients will additionally receive a link on their mobile phones to generate an entry pass, with the mandatory requirement for all attendees to carry their Aadhaar cards.
The VHP has sent invitations to the families of around 50 karsevaks who lost their lives in two distinct instances of police firing in 1990. The VHP has taken on the responsibility of coordinating the arrangements for the families, including provisions for food and accommodation during the ceremony.
“How can we forget the sacrifice of our karsevaks who gave their lives for the temple? We have invited their families to take part in the pran pratistha,” a VHP worker told ThePrint.
The three-hour program is set to commence at 11 am and conclude at 2 pm, during which attendees will be restricted from leaving until the prime minister departs for security reasons. To ensure the smooth flow of the event, attendees are advised not to bring cell phones to the venue. The consecration ceremony is scheduled to be broadcasted live on the state-run television network, Doordarshan.
