The opening of a grandiose temple in the holy city sparked an opposition boycott

Ayodhya airport can barely accommodate the influx of private jets. “The planes will take off after the guests disembark,” said airport manager Saurabh Singh.

As the Associated Press notes, the temple was built on the site of a destroyed mosque, and most political opposition leaders are boycotting the opening of the temple, saying it is not befitting of secular India.

However, those present at the opening include some of India’s most powerful people: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, and Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan.

Ahead of the upcoming general election, Modi’s Hindu nationalist party is using an elaborate consecration ceremony to lobby the country’s Hindu majority, the Associated Press notes.

The temple will be the sacred abode of one of the most popular gods of the Hindu pantheon, Ram, who Hindus believe was born at this very place in Ayodhya.

Millions of Hindus worship Lord Ram with the deep belief that chanting his name in times of adversity will bring peace and prosperity, and most of those who practice Hinduism keep idols of Ram in their homes, the Associated Press reports. Major Hindu festivals such as Dussehra and Diwali are associated with mythological tales of Rama, extolling the virtues of truth, sacrifice and ethical stewardship.

The mythological Hindu epic Ramayana, which tells the story of Ram’s journey from prince to king, has been frequently adapted into Indian popular culture. One of the most watched legendary shows is the television series Ramayan, created in the 1980s, which continues to have a devoted audience.

The divinity of Ram is not only the dominant religious force in India, but also part of the cultural heritage in countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar and Malaysia, the AP notes.

The temple, which is still under construction, spans nearly 3 hectares and is valued at $217 million. It is built of pink sandstone, decorated with intricate carvings and has 46 doors, 42 of which will be covered with a layer of gold.

Anil Mishra, a member of the trust overseeing the construction, says the temple combines traditional design with advanced technology and is “created without the use of iron, steel or cement.”

The 1.3-metre dark stone sculpture of Ram was installed in the temple’s inner sanctum for consecration on Monday, the Associated Press reported. The religious ritual of “Pran Pratishtha”, which means giving life to the idol, will be performed as per Hindu Vedic scriptures. The deity can then receive and bless the devotees.

After the ceremony, the temple will open to the public and officials say about 100,000 devotees will visit daily.

The city of Ayodhya, known for its narrow streets crowded with Hindu pilgrims and shops selling miniature ram idols, has received a revamp with modern infrastructure and services. Ayodhya’s modest airstrip in the first phase has been transformed into a sprawling international airport with a 2.2 kilometer long runway.

“The historical and spiritual significance of Ayodhya makes it an attractive destination,” and a huge surge in demand is expected, said Ravi Singh, spokesman for Indian Hotels Company Limited.

Ayodhya has for decades been at the center of India’s tumultuous politics and the Hindu majority’s bid to revive the country’s religious past. Its diverse, multicultural past was embraced by strident Hindu nationalism after mobs destroyed the 16th-century Babri mosque in 1992, the Associated Press recalls.

Hindus won a lengthy legal battle in 2019, allowing them to build the temple. Hindus make up about 80% of India’s population, but the country is also home to about 200 million Muslims, who are often attacked by Hindu nationalists, the AP notes.

Narendra Modi has been the face of the unprecedented and irreconcilable merging of religion and politics in India and presided over the temple’s groundbreaking ceremony in 2020.

Critics say the idea of ​​a diverse, constitutionally secular state pursuing Hindu religious ritual is deplorable. Most opposition leaders declined the invitation, saying the event is being used for political campaigning by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has promised to build a Ram temple as part of its election strategy.

Indian Prime Minister Modi asked people to publicly celebrate the consecration by lighting lamps in homes and temples. The message is clear, says the Associated Press: mobilizing Hindu voters will be a key issue in the upcoming national elections as Modi looks to extend his rule for a record third consecutive term.