Now, no barricades at Ram Janmabhoomi
LUCKNOW: After shifting of Ram Lalla from the sanctum sanctorum at Ram Janmabhoomi to a new makeshift temple within the campus, devotees will get to pay obeisance to the deity for the first time at the new location on June 8. With all barricades and iron grills removed from the entire Ram Janmabhoomi campus it will be a new experience for them as they will be able to worship Ram Lalla from up close.
However, there will be some restrictions to check the spread of coronavirus.
The Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust, which now controls all activities on the Ram Janmabhoomi campus, will make sure that the guidelines of the state government are followed. Anuj Jha, district magistrate of Ayodhya, who is an ex-officio member of the Trust said, “All guidelines of the state government will be enforced.”
“Thermal scanning of devotees entering Ram Janmabhoomi and Hanuman Garhi will be done,” another member of the trust said.
Satyendra Das, head priest of Ram Janmabhoomi, said, “To avoid large gathering at Ram Janmabhoomi, devotees will be allowed to enter in batches of five as stated by the chief minister.”
“No one will be allowed to take anything, including prasad (offering to God). Devotees will have to follow all the guidelines issued by the government,” said Prabhat Singh, representative of Mahant Dhinendra Das, head, Nirmohi Akhara.
Das is member of the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust. The historic Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya is also getting ready to welcome devotees post lockdown. Entire temple campus is being sanitised before it is opened for devotees on June 8. “The priest will not apply vermilion on forehead of devotees as has been the tradition till date. Social distancing would be maintained strictly ensured,” said priest Raju Das of Hanuman Garhi.
The Ayodhya administration has already convened a meeting with priests of all prominent temples of Ayodhya to make sure there is no crowding in temples when they open post lockdown.