Latest news with #RamJanmabhoomi
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Devotees to have access to entire 70-acre Ram temple complex after Oct
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust is planning to permit devotees to roam around the entire 70-acre complex of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya after October this year. As of now, devotees are allowed to pay obeisance to Ram Lalla in the main temple complex only and thereafter they have to leave the Ram Janmabhoomi campus. It will take around three to four hours for a pilgrim to visit other temples spread around the Ram Janmabhoomi complex. (HT file) It will take around three to four hours for a pilgrim to visit other temples spread around the Ram Janmabhoomi complex. Construction work of the main Ram temple is over and now the remaining 14 temples are in the final stages of completion. According to Anil Mishra, a member of the Trust, devotees would be able to visit the entire Ram Janmabhoomi campus after October this year. 'Around 90 percent work of remaining temples spread across the Ram Janmabhoomi is complete,' he added. Out of four entry gates in Ram temple, construction work of two is over. Construction work of the temple is almost complete with Ram Lalla installed on the ground floor and his family on the first floor in Ram Darbar. The second floor will house rare and significant scriptures related to Lord Ram, said Trust general secretary Champat Rai. According to the Trust, a flag-hoisting ceremony is likely to take place at the Ram temple in November. The flag will be hoisted atop the 161-foot-high spire of the temple. Flags will be hoisted on the spires of all other temples within the complex. Pushkarni and Panchavati The Ram temple complex will encompass several notable features including: Pushkarni: A sacred water tank, centrally located within the Saptarishi (seven sages) area. Panchavati: A natural area that will be preserved in its original state, allowing animals and birds to benefit from the surroundings. Saptarishi Mandap The Ram Janmabhoomi complex has a Saptarishi Mandap which comprises seven temples dedicated to sages from the Ramayana. These temples house idols of seers and devotees who played significant roles in Lord Rama's life. They include Maharishi Valmiki, Maharishi Vishwamitra, Maharishi Agastya, Maharishi Vashistha, Nishad Raj, Ahilya and Shabari. Other temples in Ram Janmabhoomi In addition to the Saptarishi temples, six other temples dedicated to various deities are under construction on the Ram Janmabhoomi campus. They are dedicated to Lord Shiva, Sun God, Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman, Goddess Bhagwati and Goddess Annapurna. An idol of Lakshman, in his Sheshavatar form, will also be consecrated in the Sheshavatar Temple.
Indian Express
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Ram Madhav writes: Mohan Bhagwat's '75 years' comment doesn't mean what you think it does
RSS sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat is a forward-looking leader. Heading a consistently growing organisation that is entering its centenary year, Bhagwat has time and again indicated his outlook on how the RSS can remain relevant for current and future generations. When he speaks his mind, it is essentially about how he wants the RSS to tread in future. However, given the high-profile position he enjoys in public life, whatever Bhagwat says is sought to be interpreted in different ways. A recent comment by the RSS sarsanghchalak on the issue of retirement age led to several interpretations. The comment came at a function in Nagpur in which a book on the life and contributions of veteran RSS leader Moropant Pingle was released. Pingle was one of the organisation's senior functionaries and is widely regarded as the brain behind several mass campaigns the Sangh Parivar organisations undertook in the 1980s, like the Ekatmata Yatra and the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. Pingle was also known for his wit and wisdom. At the function, Bhagwat recalled one such repartee: 'Moropant Pingle once said that 'if you are honoured with a shawl after turning 75, it means that you should stop now, you are old; step aside and let others come in'.' The nature of the political discourse in the country today — which I am sure Bhagwat is not unaware of — is such that this anecdote was immediately interpreted as Bhagwat's advice to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Funnily, Opposition leaders, whose parties are run by octogenarians, thought it wise to take potshots at the Prime Minister. Since this debate over the retirement of leaders at 75 keeps surfacing time and again, it may be pertinent to put it in its proper context. While Bhagwat's comment in Nagpur was anecdotal, his views on this matter seem to have been formed over the past three decades. It is known to insiders like us that as the sarkaryavah (general secretary) of the RSS from 2000 to 2009, and subsequently as the sarsanghchalak , Bhagwat made it his priority to change the organisation's age profile. The anecdote about Pingle, which must have been from the mid-1990s, seems to have influenced Bhagwat's thinking when he became the executive head at the relatively young age of 59 in 2000. This view was supported by his senior colleagues like H V Seshadri and M G Vaidya. Seshadri, who was widely regarded as the natural successor to the then chief, Rajendra Singh (Rajju Bhaiyya), decided to set an example by making way for K S Sudarshan, five years younger, for that high position. Vaidya, who functioned as the spokesperson before me, also insisted on seniors taking a backseat and promoting youngsters, and set a personal example. Encouraged by the support of such elders, Bhagwat set in motion the process of assigning important organisational roles to youngsters. I was myself an example of that transformation when I became the public face of the organisation as its spokesperson at 36. Guarded by relatively older leaders in the past, the RSS has metamorphosed into a body led more and more by younger people in the past two decades. Many provincial organisers are under 50 today while several national-level functionaries are under 60. That said, I must add that while there has been a concerted effort to rope in younger leaders at various levels in the organisation, there was never any 'rule' to deny the job to any functionary in the name of an age limit. No sarsanghchalak or sarkaryavah was asked to leave at 75. Founder K B Hedgewar and his successor, M S Golwalkar, passed away prematurely due to ill-health when they were 51 and 68, respectively. The next three chiefs — Balasaheb Deoras, Rajju Bhaiyya and Sudarshan — opted to relinquish their position on health grounds at the age of 79, 78 and 79, respectively. Bhagwat will turn 75 later this year. He is in sound health, and the organisation certainly needs his stewardship for many more years. In public life, the argument about age works both ways. Many global statesmen in the last century, like Mahatma Gandhi, Franklin D Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Lee Kuan Yew, Deng Xiaoping and Nelson Mandela, who transformed their countries, led an active political life well into the evening of their lives. On the other hand, younger leaders like John F Kennedy, Angela Merkel, Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi, too, made yeomen contributions in their respective countries in recent decades. It proves what Walt Disney once said: 'Imagination has no age.' Former US president Ronald Reagan was famous for his humour. In the presidential election in 1984, Reagan's age, 73, became an issue. During one presidential debate, when asked whether he was worried about his age becoming a stumbling block in leading the country, Reagan responded by saying, 'Not at all. I also will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent's youth and inexperience.' In governance, what counts is the experience and maturity of a leader. Bhagwat's comment may be understood in general as openness in allowing younger leaders to come forward. But to interpret it as directed toward a particular leader would amount to a misunderstanding of the nature of public life. In fact, our countrymen chose the current leadership despite 'younger' options being available on the other side since they believed that age cannot be the sole criterion. Given their dynamism and vision, besides the respect that they command among the masses, both Modi and Bhagwat are expected to lead in their respective roles for many more years to come. In fact, they must. After all, 'age doesn't matter, unless you are a cheese'. The writer, president, India Foundation, is with the BJP. Views are personal
Indian Express
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Violence of any kind in society should not be overlooked: Ambedkar University Delhi V-C amid unrest on campus
Amid growing campus unrest and allegations of a crackdown on dissent, Vice-Chancellor of Dr B R Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD), Anu Singh Lather, has defended the administration's actions and her own controversial Republic Day speech, insisting that the university remains a democratic space that respects academic freedom. 'Violence of any kind in any society should not be overlooked,' Lather told The Indian Express, as she addressed the months-long tension triggered by a student's suspension, faculty disciplinary proceedings, and demonstrations over her speech that praised the Ram Mandir and urged that B R Ambedkar be seen as a national figure. In her Republic Day speech, Lather had referred to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement as a 525-year-old issue, applauded the construction of the Ram Temple and called for Dr B R Ambedkar to be a recognised as a national figure instead of being seen only as a Dalit. It had drawn sharp criticism from student activists and some faculty members, who said it politicised an academic platform and undermined AUD's ethos. The unrest began in March after a final-year MA student was suspended for six months for allegedly criticising Lather's speech in an email sent through AUD's official internal system. The Proctorial Board, citing 'indiscipline' and the use of 'derogatory and disrespectful language against the Head of the Institution', had suspended and barred the student from the campus. 'We found out about the student's comments through an email that she had written,' Lather said. 'My only appeal to my students is to not distort anything I say. My comments on the Ram Janmabhoomi in my speech can be found in the video online. They should not be viewed with an agenda. AUD is a democratic space and all ideologies have a space on this campus. We do not punish students for sharing their views on campus as long it does not cross a line,' she added. Lather further said, 'Even in the case of the MA student, there is a certain policy and certain bodies take cognizance of actions by students on campus. The Proctorial Board had decided to take action against the student. I had intervened and later on written to the board to take a lenient view on the student's case.' In April, protests had intensified after associate professor Kaustav Banerjee was issued a show-cause notice for allegedly 'inciting disorder' during a student-led demonstration. The notice accused him of delivering a 'provocative speech' that disrupted order and prompted police intervention. 'Two issues had come up. First was the suspension of the MA student and the second was the protests that took place on campus in relation to an alleged suicide attempt at Karampura campus. They both happened one after the other. Violence of any kind in any society should not be overlooked,' Lather said. The administration has since suspended several students after a protest in April allegedly turned confrontational. Registrar Navlendra Kumar Singh had earlier told The Indian Express that demonstrators surrounded his vehicle, causing damage, and refused to disperse until they were allowed to meet the V-C. 'We have filed a police complaint. The FIR is yet to be registered. The students want to meet the V-C, but the V-C is not ready, as their approach is aggressive. We are ready to address the issues, but there needs to be a proper way to have a conversation,' Singh said. Lather defended the call to file a police complaint, saying that the move was to ensure safety on campus. She added that disciplinary actions were the result of institutional processes, not ad hoc calls. 'The university decides on actions; it is never a reaction. The Proctorial Board has patiently handled the students' issues on this campus,' she said. While Lather maintained that AUD upholds ideological plurality and due process, student groups alleged that the actions taken against them reflect an erosion of academic and democratic values. The suspended student, who is affiliated with the All India Students' Association (AISA), had earlier told The Indian Express, 'The action taken by the administration is representative of a larger and sustained attack on the academic and democratic spirit of AUD.'
India.com
07-07-2025
- India.com
Shri Ramayana Yatra: IRCTC offers 17-day train trip to over 30 places from THIS Date, tour package costs…, to cover…
New Delhi: The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is conducting its 5th special Ramayana train tour since its inception on January 22 last year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to the IRCTC officials, since the inauguration of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, the religious and cultural tourism has got a huge boost as devotees from different walks of life are visiting these places with a lot of interest. 'Since the inauguration, this is the 5th Ramayan tour which we are holding and all our previous tours received encouraging response from the travellers and pilgrims,' an IRCTC official said. When Will The Yatra Begin? This tour, 'Shri Ramayana Yatra' will start from July 25, 2025 and will cover over 30 destinations associated with Lord Ram starting from Ayodhya and going to Nandigram, Sitamarhi, Janakpur, Buxar, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, Nashik, Hampi and finally Rameshwaram island in South India before returning to Delhi. Tour Costing: The tour will cost Rs 1,17,975 per person for 3 AC, Rs 1,40,120 per person for 2 AC and Rs 1,66,380 for 1 AC class cabin and Rs 1,79,515 for 1 AC coupe. Here are some of the key details: Package price is inclusive of train journey in respective classes The package includes accommodation in 3 star category hotels for 1 AC, 2 AC and 3 AC, all meals (vegetarian only), all transfers and sight-seeing in AC Coaches, travel insurance and services of IRCTC Tour Managers etc. The tour will start from Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station on July 25 and will be operated in Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC tourist train having modern amenities. This tour, 'Shri Ramayana Yatra' will start from July 25, 2025 The tour will cover over 30 destinations associated with Lord Ram starting from Ayodhya and going to Nandigram, Sitamarhi, Janakpur, Buxar, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, Nashik, Hampi and finally Rameshwaram island in South India before returning to Delhi. 'The State of Art Deluxe AC Tourist Train has a host of amazing features including two restaurants, a modern kitchen, shower cubicles in coaches, sensor-based washroom functions, foot massager,' the press note said. It added, 'The fully air-conditioned train provides three types of accommodation viz. 1st AC, 2nd AC and 3rd AC. The train has enhanced security features of CCTV cameras and Security Guards for each coach.' Detailing about the tour itinerary, he said that it completed in 17 days and the first destination is Ayodhya where tourists will visit Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple, Hanuman Garhi and Ram Ki Paidi (Saryu ghat). 'Bharat Mandir at Nandigram follows next. The subsequent destination is Sitamarhi in Bihar where tourists shall be visiting Sita Ji's birth place and Ram Janki Temple in Janakpur (Nepal) which will be covered by road,' the official said. He added, 'Post Sitamarhi, the train proceeds for Buxar where the sightseeing would include Ramrekha ghat and Rameshwarnath temple. The next destination is Varanasi where the tourists will visit the Kashi Vishwanath temple and corridor, Tulsi Mandir, Sankat Mochan Hanuman Mandir temples and will also be witnessing the Ganga aarti.' In the next couple of days, the passengers would be taken to Prayag, Shringverpur and Chitrakoot by road where night stay will also be provided, the IRCTC said.
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Business Standard
07-07-2025
- Business Standard
Should you spend Rs 1.8 lakh on a pilgrimage? IRCTC's Ramayana tour decoded
The buzz around Ayodhya has only grown louder since the inauguration of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in January 2024. Cashing in on this devotional momentum, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is flagging off its fifth "Shri Ramayana Yatra" on July 25, 2025, via the Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC Tourist Train. The 17-day itinerary covers over 30 sacred sites, from Ayodhya to Rameshwaram, blending religious tourism with luxury travel. The Shri Ramayana Yatra, curated by IRCTC, promises 17 days, 30+ destinations, and a route carved in faith, mythology, and memory. This is no ordinary train. Think of it as a five-star darshan on wheels. Shower cubicles, foot massagers, sensor-based washrooms, CCTV-enabled coaches, and vegetarian meals cooked in a modern onboard kitchen. But the real indulgence? Waking up every morning in a new city once walked by Lord Ram. From Ayodhya's Ghats to Rameshwaram's Shores The journey begins in Ayodhya, the birthplace of Ram and the epicenter of India's new religious tourism boom. Pilgrims onboard visit the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, Hanuman Garhi, and take a serene pause at the banks of the Saryu River at Ram ki Paidi. Then, it's on to Nandigram, where Bharat waited for Ram's return; and Sitamarhi in Bihar—Sita's birthplace, followed by Janakpur in Nepal for the Ram Janaki Temple. It continues to Buxar, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Shringverpur, and Chitrakoot, key locations from Ram's exile. From there, the train heads south to Nashik, associated with Panchvati, then to Hampi, believed to be the ancient kingdom of Kishkindha, and finally to Rameshwaram, where Ram is said to have built the bridge to Lanka. The tour concludes back in Delhi, offering a complete circuit through the epic journey of Lord Ram. The catch? The journey comes at a steep price. ₹1,17,975 (3 AC) ₹1,40,120 (2 AC) ₹1,66,380 (1 AC cabin) ₹1,79,515 (1 AC coupe) According to IRCTC, package price is inclusive of train journey in respective classes, accommodation in 3 star category hotels for 1 AC, 2 AC and 3 AC, all meals (vegetarian only), all transfers and sight-seeing in AC Coaches, travel insurance and services of IRCTC Tour Managers etc. According to a press note recently issued by the IRCRC, the tour will start from Delhi Safdarjung Railway Station on July 25 and will be operated in Bharat Gaurav Deluxe AC tourist train. 'The State of Art Deluxe AC Tourist Train has a host of amazing features including two restaurants, a modern kitchen, shower cubicles in coaches, sensor-based washroom functions, foot massager,' the press note said. It added, 'The fully air-conditioned train provides three types of accommodation viz. 1st AC, 2nd AC and 3rd AC. The train has enhanced security features of CCTV cameras and Security Guards for each coach.' Detailing about the tour itinerary, he said that it completed in 17 days and the first destination is Ayodhya where tourists will visit Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple, Hanuman Garhi and Ram Ki Paidi (Saryu ghat). 1. Pilgrimage planning In India, travel for faith isn't just tradition—it's a long-term aspiration. Much like saving for a wedding or a child's education, pilgrimage is often a place in financial plan. Tip: Create a 'Religious Travel' savings pot within your SIP or recurring deposit strategy. 2. Is it value for money? IRCTC is selling more than a seat on a train. For the price, you get: Train travel across India Accommodation in 3-star hotels All vegetarian meals Guided sightseeing Travel insurance Tour managers and security Also, you're travelling in a fully air-conditioned train with shower cubicles, foot massagers, CCTV cameras, and two restaurants. When benchmarked against DIY religious travel, the convenience-to-cost ratio can work out in your favour, especially for elderly travellers or those seeking hassle-free travel. What's the cost per day? Break it down: ₹1,17,975 (3AC) ÷ 17 days = ₹6,940/day ₹1,79,515 (1AC coupe) ÷ 17 days = ₹10,560/day Now compare that to planning a similar itinerary on your own—flights, trains, intercity transfers, food, lodging, and a guide. If you're looking for comfort, the difference may not be that stark. But if you're travelling on a budget, there are other options. Budget Alternatives Not every devotee can afford ₹1.5 lakh for darshan. Consider: State Tourism Packages (like UP Tourism's Ayodhya specials) Private Pilgrimage Groups from your city Do-it-yourself trips using IRCTC Tatkal, Yatri Nivas, and budget hotels IRCTC Bharat Darshan trains, which are simpler, non-luxury pilgrimage trains starting at ₹20,000–₹30,000 Tax Angle: Can you claim deductions? Unlike donations to religious institutions (eligible under Section 80G), religious travel is not tax deductible. Even though this is a spiritual activity, you cannot claim a refund for the tour expense under any section of the Income Tax Act. Who is the tour best for?
