Key Points
- Events have been planned in Australia and around the world to mark the Ram temple consecration ceremony in India.
- The temple site, which previously housed a mosque, holds significance for both Hindus and Muslims.
- The event has garnered mixed reactions from the Indian diaspora.
The Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir will be inaugurated on 22 January.
Located in the holy city of Ayodhya in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, the temple has been built at a site widely believed by devotees to be the birthplace of Lord Ram, one of the most revered deities in Hinduism.
The holy rituals for the consecration ceremony are set to begin from 16 January, encompassing various elements such as kindling the sacred fire and purifying the temple's area with holy water.
On the afternoon of 22 January, the statue of Lord Ram will be placed within the temple, and a ceremony will be conducted by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.
Invitations have been extended to over 4,000 saints representing different sects, and media reports indicate that more than 7,000 VIP guests have also been invited to participate.
What is the Ram temple?
According to Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust responsible for overseeing the construction and management of the temple, the architectural layout blends traditional aesthetics with modern engineering techniques.
The temple will mirror the splendour of Ayodhya's historical kingdom, featuring detailed carvings, finely crafted sculptures, and symbolic motifs that vividly depict the narrative of Lord Ram.
AYODHYA, INDIA - DECEMBER 29: Workers are seen at construction site for the temple of Hindu Lord Ram on December 29, 2023 in Ayodhya, India. The Ram Mandir, built at a site thought to be the birth place of Lord Rama, a significant figure in Hindu religion, will be inaugurated on Jan. 22, 2024. (Photo by Ritesh Shukla/Getty Images) Credit: Ritesh Shukla/Getty Images
There has been no use of iron in the entire building and the foundation of the temple has been constructed with a 14-metre layer of roller-compacted concrete giving it the appearance of artificial rock.
The site will also have a Pilgrims Facility Centre, with a capacity of 25,000 people, to provide medical and other facilities.
The construction of the temple is undertaken by India's Larsen & Toubro group, and media reports say it is anticipated to incur an estimated expense of over $360 million.
Hindu devotees carry religious vessels with coconuts as a ritual during a procession known as 'Kalash Yatra' on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on December 27, 2023. (Photo by Sam PANTHAKY / AFP) (Photo by SAM PANTHAKY/AFP via Getty Images) Source: AFP / SAM PANTHAKY/AFP via Getty Images
Because of its significance for both Hindus and Muslims, the site, which previously housed a mosque, has been the centre of controversy for decades.
The lavish structure sits on what was once the site of the Babri Masjid, a place of worship for Muslims, that was demolished in 1992, triggering riots that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people.
AYODHYA, INDIA - DECEMBER 6, 1992: Karsevaks atop the Babri masjid shortly before it was demolished on December 6, 1992 at Ayodhya (Photo by Sanjay Sharma/Hindustan Times via Getty Images) Credit: Hindustan Times/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
A High Court, in 2010, had initially ruled to partition the land evenly between all three main parties.
However, this decision was later overturned, and in 2019, the Supreme Court awarded the contested land to the Hindu community for the temple construction, while an alternative piece of land was allocated to the Muslim community.
The apex court referred to the Archaeological Survey of India's findings as proof that beneath the ruins of the demolished mosque lay the remains of a structure that did not have Islamic origins.
People celebrating outside supreme court of India after the Babri Mosque verdict in New Delhi, India on 09 November 2019 (Photo by Nasir Kachroo/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Source: NurPhoto / NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images
In Australia, members of the Hindu community are set to celebrate the temple’s inauguration with events held at temples across the country.
Community members are taking part in the procession of an urn filled with rice grains and turmeric, sent all the way from Ayodhya.
Known as Kalash Yatra, the sacred urn procession will be moved among temples, providing devotees with the opportunity to offer prayers and seek blessings.
"An Akshit Kalash (urn with sacred rice) was sent to us from Ayodhya and after following the ritual of worshipping this urn we will distribute this rice to all the community members," Damji Bhai Koria, President of Hindu Council of Australia WA, told SBS Hindi.
"A similar event was held in Brisbane where devotees got an opportunity to worship the urn," he said.
Kalash (Urn) with sacred rice which is being moved around in Perth at several religious sites and temples.
"I feel lucky to witness this occasion," he said, while drawing comparison with Australian customs of acknowledging Indigenous landowners.
"In Australia, we acknowledge the Aboriginal people. Likewise, Lord Ram, revered as the Adipurush (‘the original man’), holds similar importance," he added.
Community members are also hosting live streams of the Ram temple ceremony in various Australian cities, such as Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Canberra.
Santosh Gupta, Chair of the Hindu Council of Australia ACT, said the celebration in Canberra is also being attended by Hindus from the Nepali community.
Santosh Gupta is the Chair of Hindu Council of Australia ACT. Credit: Santosh Gupta
What are others in the Australian Indian community saying?
The event has garnered mixed reactions among the Indian diaspora.
Bushra Hassan, a Melbourne resident with Muslim heritage, was born near Ayodhya in Lucknow. She expressed her objection to the temple's construction.
Reflecting on her memories of the Babri Masjid demolition, she said, "As a child at that time, I have recollections of the tensions experienced by my community. Fortunately, my family stayed secure."
"In my view, this seems like a political move, with the BJP aiming to secure support from Hindu voters. And to me this new temple signifies India's shift towards becoming a Hindu nation," she added.
Rajanikhil Malaramuthan, a 26-year-old international relations student in Sydney, shares similar feelings.
"There is a reason why Modi is inaugurating this temple even before its completion and that is the 2024 elections," he said.
Rajanikhil Malaramuthan is a student of international relations at the University of Sydney. Credit: Rajanikhil Malaramuthan
The Modi-led BJP has consistently promised the realisation of the Ram temple, and in numerous pre-election addresses, Modi has emphasised its construction.
According to the 2021 Census by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Hinduism has been growing and now constitutes 2.7 per cent of the total population.
Grant Wyeth, a Melbourne-based political analyst, feels the temple inauguration will be followed closely by the Indian diaspora in Australia.
"Many will celebrate it and see it as an important milestone for this new Indian nationalism. Others will understand it as a political, rather than religious, event. And be wary of its implications," he said.
"More than just gaining political power, the Ram Mandir symbolises the party (BJP) gaining impunity," Mr Wyeth added.
