Ram Mandir Inauguration: Amitabh Bachchan, Dalai Lama Among 7,000 Invitees; BJP Veteran LK Advani Unlikely To Attend

From spiritual and religious leaders like Dalai Lama and Baba Ramdev to film stars like Amitabh Bachchan and Rajnikanth, the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has crafted a diverse guest list for the idol consecration ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22.

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Updated on: 19 December 2023 8:42 am

Construction of Ram Mandir in full swing

From spiritual and religious leaders like Dalai Lama and Baba Ramdev to film stars like Amitabh Bachchan and Rajnikanth, the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has crafted a diverse guest list with over 7,000 invitees for the idol consecration ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22.

The newly built temple in Ayodhya would be opened for devotees after the consecration of the idol of Ram Lalla on January 22. Besides, saints, priests, shankaracharyas, religious leaders, former civil servants, retired Army officers, lawyers, the trust has also invited journalists and administrative officers who were posted in Ayodhya region around 1992.

Celebrities including Rajnikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit, Arun Govil, and film director Madhur Bhandarkar have been invited. Spiritual leader Dalai Lama, Mata Amritanandamayi of Kerala, yoga guru Baba Ramdev and prominent industrialists such as Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani, Ratan Tata, famous painter Vasudev Kamat, and ISRO Director Nilesh Desai are some of the other emiment personalities invited for the ceremony.

However, BJP veterans LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi who were at the forefront of the agitation for the Ram temple in Ayodhya are unlikely to the consecration ceremony due to their health and age, the temple trust said on Monday. "Both are elders of the family and considering their age, they were requested not to come, which was accepted by both," Ram Temple Trust general secretary Champat Rai told reporters.

More than three places in Ayodhya have been arranged for the guests to stay in, the secretary informed. Apart from this, 600 rooms have been made available by various monasteries, temples and household families.

The preparations would be completed by January 15 and the puja for 'praan pratistha' will start from January 16 and will continue till January 22. After the consecration ceremony, 'mandal puja' will be held from January 24 for 48 days as per ritual traditions. The temple will be opened for devotees on January 23.