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Ayodhya: Ram Rajya Rath Yatra and Ram Mahotsava to intensify movement for building the Ram Temple

By Siddhant Mohan, TwoCircles.net

With the disputed matter of Babri Masjid-Ram Janmbhoomi reaching the Indian Supreme Court, the movement, mediation and talks around it are taking unusual paths. In the latest episode, it was announced that a Ram Rajya Rath Yatra will start on February 13, Shivratri, from Ayodhya, and will conclude in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala on the day of Ram Navami.

A 28-feet large cart built on the proposed model of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will accompany the 41-day long Yatra. The cart, which is being called as “Ram Rajya Rath” approached Ayodhya on late Saturday from Mumbai.

Kerala-based Sree Ramadasa Mission Universal Society is behind this Yatra which will pass through Varanasi, Mirzapur, Chitrakoot, Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain and Nasik before ending at Ram Das Ashram in Thiruvananthapuram. The Yatra which is passing through the places of religious importance is aimed at gathering public support for the building of Ram Temple in Ayodhya on disputed site.

Sreesakti Saanthananda, the chief priest who is spearheading the Yatra, told media, “Our mission is to ensure construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. With this objective, we are taking out the Rath Yatra. It will end at our ashram (Rama Das Ashram) in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala on Ram Navmi.”

He further said, “Lord Ram had to spend 14 years in exile. The gap between the two Rath Yatras in 2018 and 2019 will be around 14 months,” while mentioning that in the year 2019, the Yatra will start again on Shivratri from Rameshwaram and will conclude in Ayodhya on Ram Navami.

However, what is more controversial than a mere Rath Yatra is that Yogi Adityanath, who heads the administration of Uttar Pradesh, has been asked to flag-off the march from Ayodhya on February 13. The confirmation from the CM’s office is yet to come but the organizers have high hopes.

Saanthananda said, “Besides Yogi, we are also expecting the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.” He also expected the presence of several members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, a Hindu extremist organization, and personnel involved in Ram Janmbhoomi movement in the 90s and 2000s.

Moreover, Vishwa Hindu Parishad is also set to celebrate its annual Ram Mahotsava in Ayodhya in March this year. The 14-day long Ram Mahotsava is scheduled to start on March 14, with a primary objective to intensify the movement along building Ram Temple in Ayodhya.