24 January,2024 03:49 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Lord Ram idol at Ram Temple in Ayodhya. File Pic/PTI
Members of the Maharashtra cabinet will visit Ayodhya to offer prayers at the newly-inaugurated Ram temple in the first week of February, an official said on Wednesday, reported the PTI
The visit of the Maharashtra ministers is likely to take place on February 5, he said.
There are 29 members in the council of ministers in Maharashtra, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, as per the PTI.
A new idol of Ram Lalla was consecrated at the Ayodhya temple on Monday, a landmark event led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The gates of the sprawling temple were opened to the public a day after the consecration ceremony.
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On the eve of the idol 'pran pratishtha' ceremony, Maharashtra CM Shinde on Sunday said that he plans to take his cabinet colleagues as well as MLAs and Lok Sabha MPs from the state for 'darshan' to the Ayodhya Ram temple, and hence was not attending the consecration ceremony on January 22.
Devendra Fadnavis, too, had told reporters that he would visit Ayodhya in February for "Ram seva".
Meanwhile, the security in and around the newly inaugurated Ayodhya Ram Mandir has been beefed up considering the high number of devotees thronging the temple for offering prayers. Security forces including Rapid Action Force (RAF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Uttar Pradesh police are present at the temple premises. The Pran Pratistha of Lord Ram was done on Monday, January 22 and the temple was open to public for 'darshan' from Tuesday, January 23, the ANI reported.
Director General of Law and Order, Prashant Kumar said, "Around 8000 police personnel are present in and around the temple. CRPF, SSF and other police officials will be deployed inside the temple. There will be changes made in the deployment outside the temple depending on the situation", he informed., as per the ANI.
"All arrangements are being made so that if a large number of devotees come together, they won't face any inconvenience. Whether 50 thousand devotees come together or any other number, they won't have to wait, and all necessary facilities will be in place," the DG Police added.
(with PTI and ANI inputs)
