In the northern Indian city of Ayodhya, frenzied preparations are underway for the opening of the Ram Mandir, a grand temple dedicated to Lord Ram, Hinduism’s revered deity. The temple’s inauguration is a culmination of a decadeslong Hindu nationalist pledge, with its timing strategically coinciding with the upcoming national elections expected in April or May. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has campaigned for the temple’s construction as a replacement for the 16th-century Babri Mosque, demolished by Hindu mobs in 1992. The controversial decision by India’s Supreme Court in 2019 granted the site to Hindus, resolving a prolonged dispute.
The opening ceremony is set to be a grand affair, with tens of thousands of devotees expected to attend, along with India’s elite, including industrialists, movie stars, and celebrities arriving on private jets. The event is anticipated to provide significant momentum to Modi and the BJP, tapping into the religious sentiments of the majority Hindu population. Ayodhya has undergone a significant transformation, with new infrastructure, a revamped pilgrim route, and increased accommodations to accommodate the surge in visitors. However, not without controversy, as some critics view the temple as a political project, and two head priests have refused to attend the opening, citing the consecration of an unfinished temple against Hindu scriptures.
The temple, still under construction and estimated to cost $217 million, holds immense symbolic significance for Hindus, and its opening has stirred a fervent mood among the community. The event has triggered widespread coverage on Indian TV, intensified political engagements at local temples, and volunteers distributing religious flags and pamphlets door-to-door. While the temple’s opening is celebrated by many as a victory for Hindu culture, it has also raised concerns about the status of religious places for India’s Muslim minority, amidst a broader backdrop of increasing tensions between religious communities in the country.
