Consecration of Ram idol: Distribution of akshintalu' gathers momentum

Hyderabad: With the date for the consecration of Ram idol in Ayodhya fast approaching (January 22), Sangh Parivar activists have intensified the process of distribution of akshintalu (grains laced with turmeric) by way of cards to the public. Of the one lakh sent by the RSS for distribution in the city, around 60,000 have already been distributed.

T. Satheesh Gupta, who has volunteered for the task, says, “I have distributed around 3,000 of the 4,000 cards sent to me in the last 15 days. I will finish the distribution in the next few days.” He said that he had contested as an independent candidate in the recent Assembly elections.

“We are happy that Lord Ram is coming to his place. Hope everything goes well,” says M. Amarnath, a resident of Vasavi Nagar Colony in Secunderabad. Asked if this was not a political programme that has been timed just ahead of the general elections, he opined, “We don’t think so. The temple has been constructed with the money donated by people. I myself gave '18,000 and got receipts for it.”

“This is the rebirth of Ram,” says Sravani, who has donned saffron clothes. “I was a teacher and now I am a homemaker. Let some people consider it as a political party programme but we are satisfied that the Ram temple has been built,” she says.

“I have donated Rs 75,000 for the temple. I wrote Rama koti and submitted the books at Bhadrachalam. The wish to see Ram temple after 500 years of efforts has been realised,” says P. Lakshmi Saroja, who has visited Ayodhya thrice.

According to another volunteer M. Anand, “I participate in RSS activities and visit shakas regularly. I am happy that the Ram temple has been completed.”