Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the consecration of a grand temple to the Hindu god Lord Ram in Ayodhya, believed to be his birthplace, Reuters reports.
The event is celebrated by Hindu groups and Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a symbol of Hindu renaissance after centuries of perceived subjugation by Muslim invaders and colonial powers.
The temple has been a contentious issue, leading to riots in 1992 when a Hindu mob destroyed a mosque on the site. The Supreme Court in 2019 awarded the land to Hindus, allowing the construction of the temple. The temple opening is marked by religious rituals, with Modi participating in prayers and traditional ceremonies.
Modi’s party sees this as a historic moment, but opposition parties, including Congress, boycotted the inauguration, considering it a political event. Pakistan condemned the consecration, expressing concern about growing majoritarianism in India.
