During a Cabinet meeting today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested that his cabinet colleagues refrain from visiting the Ayodhya Ram Temple at present. The PM emphasized the significant crowd and proposed that Union Ministers should schedule their visits to Ayodhya in March to prevent inconveniences to the public due to VIP protocols, according to government sources.
500,000 Devotees on Inaugural Day
This recommendation follows the overwhelming response at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 23, 2024, with approximately 500,000 visitors on its inaugural day open to the public. The crowd continued to grow throughout the day, posing challenges in crowd management.
Visuals portrayed a substantial assembly at Rampath, where devotees gathered to offer prayers to Ram Lalla. The unveiling of Ram Lalla’s face occurred on Monday (January 22) during the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ rituals led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the temple.
Extended Timings Amidst Massive Rush
In response to the significant influx of devotees, officials have extended visiting hours, allowing devotees to attend until 10 pm. To ensure a smooth flow of pilgrims, media entry within the Ram Janmabhoomi complex has been limited for the day.
Additionally, access for vehicles on specific roads leading to the temple has been temporarily suspended, requiring devotees to approach on foot. A comprehensive security plan, involving personnel from the UP Police, Rapid Action Force (RAF), and private security guards, has been implemented, with over 8,000 police officers assigned for crowd management.
