India’s stock market is closed for the day, and central government offices are only open for half the day as much of the country prepares to witness the consecration of a Hindu temple in the city of Ayodhya. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join priests in inaugurating the temple, which many see as the start of his campaign for re-election. The event is being touted as a national celebration, but it comes with a history of controversy.
The Ram temple is being built on a contentious piece of land that was previously the site of the Babri Masjid, a mosque that was demolished in 1992 by Hindu nationalists. After years of legal battles, the Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that the site would be handed over to a trust for the construction of a Hindu temple. The ruling sparked debate about the implications for India’s secular and democratic principles, and highlighted concerns about religious bigotry and communal tensions.
The history of the disputed site dates back to colonial rule, and tensions surrounding it continued to escalate with the rise of the BJP in the 1980s. The demolition of the mosque in 1992 led to violent riots across the country, and the eventual ruling on the site’s future in 2019 has continued to stir controversy.
The consecration of the new temple is seen as a symbol of Hindu nationalism, and its link to Modi’s political future is clear. The BJP’s long-standing promise to build the temple has been one of its foundational pledges, and its association with the temple movement has significantly shaped its political fortunes. The temple’s inauguration is expected to boost Modi’s image and potentially contribute to his re-election campaign.
The ceremony is scheduled for Monday, with a grand procession and the placing of a statue of Ram in the inner sanctum. Despite objections from some religious leaders about the consecration of an incomplete temple, the event is expected to draw significant attention and evoke strong emotions across the country.