Nepalese Devotees Eager to Attend Ayodhya’s Ram Temple Inauguration; Visit of President, PM Yet to be Confirmed

New Delhi, Nov 17: Many Nepalese devotees’ express enthusiasm for visiting Ayodhya on the inauguration day of the Ram Temple in January next year, as confirmed by Nepal’s Ambassador to India, Shankar Sharma.

Ambassador Sharma, speaking to ANI in Delhi, emphasized the strong emotional connection every Nepali has with Ayodhya. He stated that people would travel in large numbers by bus and other means to witness this historic event. Regarding the potential visit of Nepal’s President and Prime Minister for the inauguration, Ambassador Sharma mentioned that, although the official invitation might not have reached the embassy yet, multiple channels for such communications exist, expressing confidence that the Indian government is utilizing them.

Highlighting the historical ties between Janakpur in Nepal and Ayodhya in India, the envoy noted the annual procession from Ayodhya to Janakpur, reinforcing the cultural and religious connections between the two places. He expressed optimism that many people from Nepal would visit Ayodhya in the future. Notably, the Ramayan circuit and the Buddhist circuit have already been initiated, strongly developing pilgrimage tourism and people-to-people ties.

Janakpur, the birthplace of Janaki or Sita, the consort of Lord Ram, is a hub for religious and cultural tourism. It is home to more than 70 Hindu temples, with the Janaki Mandir being the most significant. Ambassador Sharma also shared the significance of Nepal as the birthplace of Sita and how a holy rock from Nepal played a crucial role in sculpting the idol of Ram for the upcoming Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The rock, known as “shaligram,” is identified from the Gandaki River and holds great importance in Hindu traditions.

As per reports, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) plans to extend invitations to approximately 10 crore families for the inauguration of the Ram Temple. The event, scheduled for January 22 next year in Ayodhya, is expected to witness the participation of around 4000 prominent representatives from various Hindu traditions, key officials of the Vishwa Parishad, and senior figures from the social, cultural, and creative spheres of the country.

Moreover, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Ram Mandir on January 22, 2024.