NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to visit Ayodhya on August 5 to take part in “Bhumi Pujan” and “Havan” rituals for the construction of a Ram Temple.
The Prime Minister Office (PMO) has given tentative clearance to the date.
The rituals would clear the decks for auspicious commencement of Ram temple construction. The spade-work, including levelling of the construction site, has been completed.
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerath Kshetra Trust had invited Prime Minister Modi to take part in the rituals through its chairman Mahant Nrityagopal Das after its meeting held on Saturday.
They proposed two dates for the rituals—August 3 and August 5.
The trust, comprising of 15 members, was constituted by the Union government for construction of the proposed temple and management of its affairs in the wake of Supreme Court’s order.
A source in the know about developments relating to Ram temple construction said the PMO has conveyed to the trust about tentative consent to the August 5 as the date for Modi’s visit.
August 3 was passed over as it coincided with ‘Raksha Bandhan’ festival.
The source said that sans the bureaucratic officialese, the date is final for Modi’s visit.
The rituals will commence at about 8 am and end at 1.10 pm. Modi is likely to partake of them from about 11 am.
The religious and spiritual leaders had concluded that the auspicious-cosmic period for the ‘bhumi pujan’ was August 3, August 4 and August 5.
Faith leaders also concluded that the next round of benevolent period would be not be before three months hence.
On earlier two occasions, the trust as not successful in its attempts for Modi’s visit .
The first was during last Ram Navami observed in celebration of Lord Ram’s birth) in April, and the second was in June. The lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic is said to have played the devil.
Sources said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath had also spoken to Modi with a request to expedite the visit. The UP government is overseeing the arrangements for the Bhumi Pujan.
Meanwhile, the trust has decided to increase the number of domes, including the main dome (canopying the “Garbhagriha”) from earlier three to five.
Also, the main dome, which exalts the Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) will be further elevated from the earlier plan of 147 ft to 161 ft.