NDRF Teams Deployed for Ayodhya's Ram Mandir Ceremony

Meanwhile, Mr Modi, as part of his special religious practice for 11 days in the run up to the pran pratishtha ceremony at the Ram temple, has been sleeping over a blanket on the floor and drinking only coconut water. He has also been performing "gau pooja", feeding cows and engaging in various forms of charity like anna daan and giving away clothes in accordance with scriptures, sources said.

As a devout "Ram bhakt", Mr Modi has been visiting temples in different parts of the country in the last few days, including Ramkund and Shree Kalaram Temple in Nasik, Veerbhadra Temple in Lepakshi in Andhra Pradesh and Guruvayur Temple and Thriprayar Sree Ramaswamy Temple in Kerala.

Similarly, the Prime Minister will visit more such temples in Tamil Nadu over the next two days. These temples not only act as a unifying force for different parts of the country but also have a connection with Lord Ram, they noted.

His visit to temples across the country in the last few days, listening to the Ramayan in multiple languages and participating in bhajans in the temples, is significant as its impact goes much beyond the commonly understood realm of religion, sources said.

His efforts are also aimed at strengthening the "Bharatiya" socio-cultural fabric in line with his vision of "Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat", they added.

Earlier, Mr Modi also launched the initiative to clean up temples and cleaned the premises of Shree Kalaram Temple in Nasik in an effort to lead by example and spark a mass movement.

"Lakhs of people voluntarily took on the task of cleaning the temples. The movement has witnessed enthusiastic participation from people from all walks of life in the country. From celebrities to commonmen, everyone has responded to Mr Modi's clarion call, which is also seen in the #SwachhTeerthCampaign being amongst the top trends on X," an official said.

Amid criticism from the Opposition parties over the “politicisation” of the religious event by the BJP, senior BJP leader Uma Bharti in Lucknow launched a scathing attack on the Congress, saying those who denied the existence of Lord Ram do not have the courage to go to Ayodhya and they do not deserve to go there.

"Wo us layak nahi ke waha aate (They do not deserve to go there)," Ms Bharti told the media when asked about the Congress declining the invitation to attend the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22.

"They rejected Ram...they denied his existence in an affidavit to the Supreme Court, saying Ram does not exist. The affidavit was such that they did not have the courage to go there (Ayodhya)," said the former CM.

Amid clamour over four shankaracharyas not attending the Ram temple pran pratishtha ceremony, the shankaracharya of Puri clarified that their decision is rooted in the deviation from established traditions during the installation of the Ram temple idol.

Meanwhile, on Friday, a chariot from Lord Hanuman's birthplace Kishkindha, traced in the region of present-day Hampi in Karnataka, arrived in Ayodhya ahead of the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple.

Kishkindha is believed to be located on the outskirts of Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Three places in Karnataka are believed to have a direct connection with the Ramayan, including Kishkindha. The other two are the Mahabaleshwar temple in Gokarna and the Chandra Drona Parvatha range in Chikkamagaluru.

Elaborating on the arrangements at and around the temple, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) director-general Atul Karwal told PTI that the teams are undertaking continuous familiarisation exercises and conducting simulation drills in the temple town to respond to any contingency.

"Multiple NDRF teams and a few HAZMAT (hazardous material) vehicles that were procured by the force during the recently concluded G-20 summit in Delhi have been stationed in Ayodhya to effectively deal with any kind of disaster or trouble," he said on the sidelines of the 19th raising day event of the force.

The D-G said the teams will continue to be stationed in Ayodhya after the January 22 event, till the hectic activity and rush of pilgrims in the city continue.

The NDRF’s diving teams have been deployed at the Sarayu River and other water bodies in the city to tackle any drowning incidents. The rescue teams, along with their equipment and canines, are also deployed in Ayodhya.