Ayodhya: As the countdown begins for the grand consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on 22 January, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) has launched a massive outreach programme to invite people to join countrywide celebrations, ThePrint has learnt.
Through the Kalash Yatra — a 15-day drive set to begin on 1 January — RSS workers aim to reach every household in India with pujit akshat (rice grains with turmeric) and a photo of the Ram temple. They will also urge people to light diyas (clay lamps) on the day of the consecration.
According to an RSS functionary, who did not wish to be named, part of the goal is to reach 22,000 villages across the country with 35,000 volunteers involved in the Kalash Yatra.
“This Kalash Yatra will be marked as the biggest people-to-people outreach programme for a religious event,” the functionary said.
Krishna Chandra, RSS pracharak in Ayodhya, told ThePrint, “Our pracharaks from all states have been assigned the task of inviting people to light diyas at their houses as Lord Ram is coming back to the magnificent temple. We want people across India to celebrate Diwali that day.”
The Kalash Yatra will cover every village, town and city in the country, RSS workers told ThePrint. Brass pots (kalash) containing 10 quintals of pujit akshat have been transported from Ayodhya to the respective states by RSS workers. From there, they will be distributed in districts, blocks, gram sabhas and villages by local teams.
In Ayodhya itself, 15 kalash with 10 quintals of pujit akshat will be distributed, RSS workers said.
“The drive will be held as a form of door-to-door campaign. This is how invitations were sent historically. Rice would be worshipped at the temple and distributed among people as an invitation,” said Chandra.
Teams formed, training begins
Teams of four volunteers each have been formed to cover 150 families. They have been trained to spend at least 15 minutes with each family to explain the significance and details of the Ram temple consecration, RSS functionaries told ThePrint.
According to them, the training of the teams started at their respective state headquarters Sunday. The volunteers were taught how to behave and communicate with people. A script was prepared and volunteers were given the same information to convey everywhere, said the functionaries.
Meanwhile, temples across India have been asked to conduct havans (fire rituals) and prayers at the time of consecration, RSS workers told ThePrint.
“People should gather at their local temples, decorate them, light diyas and pray,” said an RSS functionary, who did not want to be named.
The families will also be asked to light at least 11 diyas, considered an auspicious number. “The families will also be asked to clean their houses and neighbourhoods as they do before Diwali,” the functionary added.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
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