On the day of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee organized an all-faith rally (Sanhati rally) in Kolkata on January 22.
During the event, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) emphasized that the Sanhati rally aimed to demonstrate solidarity among followers of all religions. The TMC expressed, “Unity lies at the heart of all faiths! Today, at the Sanhati rally, massive crowds gathered to express support for the unity of diverse beliefs alongside Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee. It was a breathtaking sight as people from various backgrounds marched together, showcasing solidarity for all religions,” as posted on X.
Before the rally, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that the Sanhati rally would encompass mosques, temples, churches, and gurdwaras along the route. She welcomed people of all faiths to join the rally, emphasizing the inclusive nature of the event.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the Pran Pratishtha ceremony for the new idol of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. Addressing the grand event, the Prime Minister stated that the unveiling of the Ram Lalla idol was not only a moment of triumph but also of humility.
“This is a moment of celebration as well as a reflection of Indian society’s maturity. It is an occasion of not merely triumph but humility too. The history of the world is itself proof that many countries get strangled in their history, and such countries faced difficulties when they tried to solve their problems, but the way our country untied the knots of history is proof that our future is going to be more beautiful than our past,” he remarked.
PM Modi highlighted that the construction of the temple was initially anticipated to ‘set off a firestorm,’ symbolising peace, patience, harmony, and the integration of the country. He commented on the purity of India’s social spirit, stating that the construction of the Ram Lalla temple represented peace, patience, mutual harmony, and coordination in Indian society.
The PM also characterized Ayodhya’s temple as a symbol of national consciousness in the form of Ram. He walked inside the temple premises with a silver ‘chattar’ (umbrella) placed on a red folded dupatta. RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were present inside the sanctorum during the rituals. Devotees and guests chanted ‘Jai Sri Ram’ as the ceremony unfolded.
