Indian PM opens Hindu temple
On 22 January, Indian prime minister (PM) Narendra Modi opened a new Hindu temple built on the site where a mosque (a place of worship for Muslims) used to stand.
The temple, called Ram Mandir, is dedicated to the Hindu god Lord Ram. It was built in Ayodhya, a city in northern India. The Babri mosque, which had stood on that spot, was built in the 16th century but was violently destroyed by Hindu people in 1992 because they said the site was the birthplace of Lord Ram. After many court cases, the land was given to Hindus in 2019.
There were around 7,000 guests at the opening ceremony, including politicians, Hindu leaders and film and cricket stars. Modi led the ceremony and said the temple marked “a new era” for India. Some political leaders chose not to attend the ceremony because they didn’t agree with it. India is a secular country, which means it has no official connection to any religion. Critics say Modi favours Hindus, which makes other groups feel threatened. They also say Modi is using the temple to boost his popularity before this year’s elections.
There are 1.2 billion people living in India. Most are Hindus but about 200 million are Muslims. For many Muslims the ceremony brought back painful memories of the mosque’s destruction, which led to violence across the country.
Half a million Hindus visited the temple on its opening day. One told Associated Press, “I am here to see history unfolding. For centuries, the story of Lord Ram has resonated in the hearts of millions.”