The Latest Breaking News from Ayodhya

This week, host Sumedha Mittal is joined by Newslaundry’s Tanishka Sodhi and The Caravan’s Sagar.

Hi NL team,

Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad said on Monday that the struggles and teachings of Lord Ram in exile as narrated by the Ramayana gave “solace and inspiration” to the girmitiyas or Indian indentured labourers of the 19th century who carried copies of the epic with them while travelling in…

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on February 5 described the consecration of Ram Lalla’s idol at the Ayodhya temple on January 22 as a courageous work, which happened because of the blessings and desire of God.

A recent statement by Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) State president Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal advising party workers to accept the reality and to go ahead by setting aside protests over Ayodhya has courted a controversy.

The Thangal’s recent remarks on Ayodhya, that there was no need to protest against the construction of the Ram Temple as both the temple and mosque at Ayodhya would strengthen the secular values in the country, had become controversial.

Shardool and Anand’s perspectives on the inauguration of the Ram temple are disconcerting for non-Hindus. Their assertion that their joy is organic seems myopic, as the Ram Janmabhoomi movement was undeniably political, exploited by the BJP for long-term political gains. 

Last week, when Rajinikanth flew off to Ayodhya to attend the Ram Mandir consecration, no one was surprised. He sat next to Sachin Tendulkar, exchanged a couple of words with Narendra Modi, and was among the first to get darshan. 

As devotees stream in, residents say small town in one of India’s poorest states lacks infrastructure to host millions.