Page 28 - Ayodhya

Ram temple to likely open in January 2024, infra works expedited in Ayodhya

The Uttar Pradesh government has expedited infrastructure works in Ayodhya, including expansion of its airport and railway station, as the city prepares for the opening of the Ram temple in January next year, according to a statement. Work is also in progress on the Ram Path, a 13-km road from Sahadatganj to Naya Ghat, it said. The outline for the construction of the Ramjanaki Path and the Bhakti Path is also ready, the statement issued in Lucknow said. The airport and the railway station are also being expanded, it added. These road corridors are important as these will facilitate the movement of devotees to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi and the Hanuman Garhi temple, the statement said. The width of the Ram Janmabhoomi Path will be 30 metres and the width of the Bhakti Path will be 14 metres, it said. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has invited people to come for the Ram temple's opening, it said and added that he is reviewing the progress of different works regularly. In Uttarakhand'

Nepal's ex-King offers prayers at Ram Janmabhoomi in UP's Ayodhya

Former king of Nepal Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah, who is on a visit to India, on Sunday offered prayers to Ram Lalla at the Ram Janmabhoomi here. Shah also oversaw the construction of the Ram temple and offered prayers at Hanumangarhi temple. He also paid a visit to the banks of river Saryu at 'Ram ki Paidi'. "Shah, while on a tour to Uttar Pradesh, expressed his desire to visit Ayodhya. Then on the instructions of the state government, arrangements were made for him. He arrived in Ayodhya with his wife and family as a state guest," District Magistrate Nitish Kumar said. Shah stayed for some time at Circuit House and then visited Hanumangarhi temple and Ram Janmabhoomi amid tight security, he added.

BJP wins big in Ayodhya-Mathura-Varanasi municipal polls amid makeover

The makeover of religious cities, including Ayodhya and Mathura, along with the push to religious tourism, has already reaped rich dividends for the ruling BJP in Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh urban local body polls: BJP wins Ayodhya mayor election

The ruling BJP retained the mayoral seat in the temple town of Ayodhya with party candidate Girish Pati Tripathi defeating his nearest rival Ashish of the Samajwadi Party by a margin of 35,638 votes. Tripathi bagged 77,494 votes while All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) candidate Rehan secured the third position pocketing 15,107 votes. BSP candidate Ram Murti got 12,852 votes while Congress' Pramila Rajput bagged 4,084 votes, according to the State Election Commission (SEC). During the campaigning for the urban local body polls, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had targeted the opposition Samajwadi Party, saying, "Any devotee of Ram emerging victorious in Ayodhya in this festival of democracy will create a good impression. But if the person who fired at the devotees of Ram gets votes, it (will) send a wrong message." In the 2017 urban local bodies polls, Ayodhya had elected its first mayor -- Rishikesh Upadhyay of the BJP. The urban local body polls were held

Modelled on Disneyland, 'Ramaland' in Ayodhya to tell tales of Ram

Marquee hotels making a beeline; Saryu cruise is in the works

Hospitality industry flocks to Ayodhya as religious tourism gains momentum

Hospitality industry is flocking to Ayodhya as religious tourism in India witnesses accelerated growth and the upcoming Ram Temple is adding another attraction to the historical site. From leading 5-star brands like the Taj, Radisson and ITC Hotels to budget players such as OYO, companies lining up to open new hotels there have their share in the 25,000 rooms envisaged in future by the Uttar Pradesh government. Tata Group hospitality firm Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) plans to open two new properties, and Radisson also has a similar plan. Another major player, ITC Hotels is also exploring opportunities in Ayodhya to cater to increased demand that is projected to reach 4 crore visitors annually by 2031 under the Ayodhya Master Plan 2031, up from 2 crore visitors at present. At the other end of the spectrum, OYO plans to add 50 new properties -- 25 homestays and 25 small and medium hotels with 10 to 20 rooms each -- in Ayodhya in 2023 under a collaboration with Ayodhya Development

Deliberations underway on date of placement of Ram Lalla idol in Ayodhya

A two-day meeting of the Ram temple construction committee is underway in Ayodhya on the Ram Janmabhoomi premises. The meeting that began on Friday is scheduled to be attended by committee chairman Nripendra Mishra, Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra General Secretary Champat Rai, office bearers of the Trust, and engineers of Larsen & Toubro. The stakeholders are meeting to decide the date of placing of the idol of Ram Lalla in the original sanctum sanctorum. Apart from it, they will also discuss the carving of a new idol of Lord Rama. Seers from Kashi have also suggested some dates for the installation of the idol. The Trust may announce the actual date in the last week of May on the occasion of the birthday of the Trust president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, sources said. The event in Ayodhya is likely to see the presence of senior seers and many national leaders.

Deliberations on date of placement of Ram lalla idol begin in Ayodhya

A two-day meeting of the Ram temple construction committee began in Ayodhya on Friday at Ram Janmabhoomi premises. The meeting is scheduled to be attended by committee chairman Nripendra Mishra, Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra General Secretary Champat Rai, office bearers of the Trust, and engineers of Larsen & Toubro. The stakeholders are meeting to decide the date of placing of the idol of Ram Lalla in the original sanctum sanctorum. Apart from it, they will also discuss the carving of a new idol of Lord Rama. Seers from Kashi have also suggested some dates for the installation of the idol. The Trust may announce the actual date in the last week of May on the occasion of the birthday of the Trust president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, sources said. The event in Ayodhya is likely to see the presence of senior seers and many national leaders.

Credit for Ram Temple in Ayodhya goes to PM Modi, Amit Shah: Gujarat CM

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah should be given credit for the ongoing construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya and maintained the two senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have done a lot in preserving the country's culture and faith. Patel said several agitations took place in the past for a Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the birth place of Lord Ram in Uttar Pradesh, where a mega temple dedicated to the deity is coming up. He was addressing a gathering at a "Ram Katha" (recitation of life story of Lord Ram) organised by Vishv Umiyadham in the Nikol area of the city on Thursday night. "We all know how many agitations took place in the past for the construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The temple will be ready by 2024. We should give credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for that. They contributed a lot in preserving our faith and culture," said the CM. Vishv Umiyadham i

Tata Group's IHCL debuts in Ayodhya, signs deal to build 2 luxury hotels

With the addition of these two, IHCL will have 19 hotels across Taj, SeleQtions, Vivanta, and Ginger brands across Uttar Pradesh including nine others that are currently under development

Oyo to open 50 properties in Ayodhya, places big bets on religious cities

There has been a consistent rise in the number of tourists visiting Ayodhya over the last few years as the city infrastructure is getting rejuvenated

Saffron flag will be unfurled all over Maha in 2024: CM Shinde in Ayodhya

Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde on Sunday said the ideology of his party and that of the BJP is the same and they will unfurl the saffron flag all over the state next year. "Our party's role is clear. The Shiv Sena has an alliance with the BJP. Our ideology, which is Hindutva, is the same. We will go to our state with new energy from Ayodhya and serve the people. In 2024, the Shiv Sena and the BJP's 'bhagva' (saffron flag) will be unfurled in the entire state," Shinde said while addressing a press conference here. The Lok Sabha election as well as the Maharashtra Assembly polls are due next year. Without naming anyone, the Maharashtra chief minister said there are a few people who are "allergic" to Hindutva because if it (Hindutva) reaches every household in the country, their "shop" will be closed. Shinde is on his maiden visit to Ayodhya after becoming the Maharashtra chief minister in June last year. He has been accompanied to the temple town in Utt

Those raising doubt on Ram temple construction shown way home: CM Shinde

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said those raising doubts about the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya were shown their way home as the process has started and the work is in full swing. After paying obeisance to Ramlalla and overseeing the construction work of the temple, Shinde said he is happy that the dream of "Hindu Hriday Samrat" Balasaheb Thackeray and crores of Ram bhakts is being fulfilled. "Everyone used to wonder when the construction work would start. Some used to say 'mandir wahin banayenge, par tarikh nahi batayenge' (the temple will be built there, but the dates will not be told). But Prime Minister Narendra Modi has got the work started and the dream of crores of Ram bhakts is being fulfilled.... Those asking for the dates have also been shown their way home," Shinde, who has been accompanied by thousands of Shiv Sainiks on his maiden visit to Ayodhya as the chief minister, said. His supporters were seen carrying saffron flags with the Shiv ..

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde to visit Ayodhya with Shiv Sena leaders today

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with fellow Shiv Sena MPs and MLAs, will visit Ayodhya on Sunday

Maharashtra CM leaves for Ayodhya; says will address critticism by work

Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde on Saturday evening embarked on the tour of Ayodhya where he will offer prayers to Lord Ram by boarding a flight for Lucknow from Mumbai airport. Shinde is accompanied by leaders of Shiv Sena, MPs and MLAs, and leaders of ally BJP. It will be Shinde's maiden visit to Ayodhya after taking charge as Maharashtra chief minister in June 2022 and after the Election Commission recognised the faction led by him as Shiv Sena and allotted it the "bow and arrow" poll symbol. Shinde will travel to Ayodhya from Lucknow on Sunday afternoon and perform a 'maha aarti' at the under-construction Ram temple with others and later at the Sharayu river in the evening. He is also scheduled to visit the ongoing construction of the Ram temple and will address a press conference in Ayodhya on Sunday afternoon. He will return to Mumbai on Sunday night, as per his aides. Speaking to reporters at the Mumbai airport, the chief minister said he would

Shinde flags off special train to Ayodhya, to visit temple town on Sunday

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday flagged off a special train to Ayodhya carrying activists of his party Shiv Sena amid fanfare, two days ahead of his own visit to the temple town in Uttar Pradesh. Sporting a traditional saffron shawl, Shinde, accompanied by his son, Kalyan Lok Sabha MP Srikant Shinde, Kalyan unit in-charge of the Shiv Sena Gopal Landge, local leaders and hundreds of party activists, showed the green flag to the train at Thane station around 4.40 pm amidst slogans of Jai Shri Ram. Shiv Sainiks travelling by the special train, which was well decorated with a 'Chalo Ayodhya' board mounted in the front, will welcome their leader when he lands in the town on Sunday. Amid blowing of trumpets and music bands playing, the CM walked the entire stretch of the platform No. 5 accompanied by hundreds of Shiv Sainiks carrying saffron flags with pictures of Lord Ram and the party's 'bow and arrow' poll symbol printed on them. They also displayed placards ...

Maharashtra CM Shinde to visit Ayodhya on April 9 with party leaders

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday announced that he would visit Ayodhya, where a grand temple of Lord Ram is being built, on April 9 with the leaders of his party and perform 'aarti' at the Saryu river there. He made the announcement during a press conference held at Anand Ashram in the city. "I will visit Ayodhya on April 9 with my party ministers, MLAs, MPs and other functionaries. We will visit the Ram temple construction site and also perform 'aarti' at the Saryu river," Shinde said. As a token of Maharashtra's contribution in the Ram temple, logs of 'sag' (teak) wood would be donated for the construction activity, he said. "As part of the 'kar seva' (during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement), my mentor late Anand Dighe had donated a silver brick for the Ayodhya temple. We have an old bond with Ayodhya and Lord Ram," the chief minister added. Shinde said that his party ministers and leaders, who could not visit Ayodhya last time (during the erstwhile Uddhav ...

Uttar Pradesh govt set to launch 'New Ayodhya' project in the next 2 months

Recently, the Yogi Cabinet had cleared a slew of infra and development projects worth Rs 465 crore for Ayodhya

Projects worth Rs 32,000 crore underway in Ayodhya: UP CM Adityanath

The CM also gave instructions to speed up the work, maintain the standard quality of the projects, and take them forward in a time-bound manner

Construction of Ram temple likely to be completed months before deadline

The construction of the Ram temple here is likely to be completed months before the deadline, an office bearer of the Sriram Janambhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust said on Friday. "We are confident that the temple will be completed three months before the due date. So we have advanced the deadline from December 2023 to September 2023. Now, the temple will get it's final shape in September," in-charge of trust's office at Ram Janambhoomi Prakash Gupta said. "The sanctum sanctorum of the temple of Lord Rama will be octagonal and the temple is now taking shape. About 75 per cent of the work of the first phase of the temple has been completed. Now, only 167 pillars are left to be installed in the temple. The construction of the roof will also start by May-June," he said. The new pictures of temple which were made public by the trust on Friday show that all the pillars in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple have been erected. Twenty-four of the 32 stairs to reach the sanctum sanctorum have bee