Celebrate Diwali before Diwali — BJP’s grand plans for Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan day
India

Celebrate Diwali before Diwali — BJP’s grand plans for Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan day

The BJP plans to felicitate kar sevaks who had taken part in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement between 1989 and 1992.

   
A man cleans carved stones meant to be used in the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya | Photo: ANI

A man cleans carved stones meant to be used in the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya (representational image) | Photo: ANI

New Delhi: The BJP has planned Diwali-like celebrations on 5 August — when the bhoomi puja of Ram temple in Ayodhya will be held.

The party has instructed all its state units to celebrate the day like Deepawali, to be celebrated in November this year, said Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta.

According to BJP leaders, all party workers, MPs, MLAs have been asked to light diyas at their homes, neighbourhoods and temples in the evening, and during the day, watch the bhoomi pujan ceremony digitally and sing Ram bhajans. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Ayodhya to take part in the ground-breaking ceremony.

The party leaders have also been asked to felicitate ‘kar sevaks’, who had participated in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement between 1989 and 1992. They have been asked to distribute shawls and sweets to the kar sevaks as part of the celebrations.

This apart, BJP members have been asked to post on social media updates about the event, pictures of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and tag PM Modi. They can also share pictures of the programmes taking place in their respective states or districts.

If any BJP functionary, MLA or MP had taken part in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, he can post pictures of that time too, BJP leaders said.


Also read: ‘Do gaz doori’ at Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan as trust prunes invite list amid Covid scare


Laser show, kavi sammelan in Delhi

The BJP in Delhi will distribute 11 lakh diyas among people. Municipal corporations have been asked to light up city temples on the occasion.

Besides this, giant LEDs will be placed in all the 70 assembly constituencies so that people can watch the ceremony live. All MPs, MLAs, BJP office-bearers have been asked to be present at the constituencies.

A mega laser show has also been planned to mark the special day. This apart, a ‘kavi sammelan’ titled ‘Kaviyon ki sham, Ram k naam’, has been planned at the BJP office in the national capital. Langars (community feast) have also been planned at several locations.

“It is a great pride for us that after 500 years, the dream of building a grand Ram temple is going to come true. Many people want to go to Ayodhya, but this is not possible due to the Covid pandemic. So we have decided to celebrate Diwali here only. The whole city will be lightened up for this. We have planned several programmes to mark the occasion in Delhi,” said Gupta.

Bihar

In Bihar also, every district party member has been told to felicitate kar sevaks

“From our state, more than 40,000 kar sevaks had participated in the Ram temple movement. Many of them are alive and we are felicitating them in the districts by giving them shawls and sweets,” Bihar BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal told ThePrint.

“This is a historical moment. We are facing severe floods in many parts. Our organisation is involved in helping them, but where there is no flood-like situation, we will hold grand celebrations,” he added.

Goa BJP’s plans 

Goa has plans to erect over 1,000 banners on prominent sites on which the picture of Ram temple and PM Modi will be displayed. 

“I was a young kar sevak during those days while working for the RSS. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s father and I had participated during the kar seva in 1989. This is a special moment for us for which we have struggled so many years. This moment will be celebrated with full festivity,” said BJP chief Sadanand Tanavade.

“Many had the dream of seeing the construction of the Ram temple. This is a civilisational dream, which will be fulfilled on 5 August.”

Tanavade also said that the BJP’s party flag won’t be waved that day as the event is “above from party politics”.

The Ram Mandir trust and the VHP have also asked devotees to light diyas, perform kirtans and rituals such as havan, puja and pushpanjali, and blow conch shells as part of the bhoomi puja ceremony.

“They have been told to maintain Covid protocols during the event. This is a special ceremony and this message should reach every nook and corner of the country,” said a BJP general secretary.


Also read: Ram temple ceremony a BJP-RSS event, party stealing credit — Congress over not being invited