The Ram temple has become a new centre of pilgrimage for both devout and agnostic Hindus, and its importance is unlikely to diminish in the coming decades
The first anniversary of the pran pratishtha of the Ram temple in Ayodhya was a relatively subdued affair. Apart from the welcome absence of needless celebrities from this year’s commemoration and the fact that the attention of the devout is focused on the all-important Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, there is a quiet, mission-accomplished mood in Hindu society that has obviated triumphalist inclinations.
Ayodhya’s Ram temple has become a new centre of pilgrimage for both devout and agnostic Hindus, and its importance is unlikely to diminish in the coming decades. There is, after all, a compelling story accompanying the building of the temple that has added to its romance and historical significance. Additionally, the history of India from 1984 to 2024 can be told through the saga surrounding the Ram Janmabhoomi temple.
