Ayodhya: Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra general secretary Champat Rai has said only 175 eminent guests have been invited for the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, in view of the Covid-19 spread.
Speaking to reporters, he said the invitation list has been prepared only after personally discussing with BJP veterans L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, lawyer K Parasaran and other dignitaries.
According to Rai, the 175 eminent guests, including 135 seers belonging to as many spiritual traditions, would be present at the programme. He added that some eminent citizens of the temple town have also been invited.
Salil Singhal, the nephew of late VHP leader Ashok Singhal, will be the ‘yajmaan’ (ritual patron) at the ceremony. Hindu seers from Nepal have also been invited as Janakpur has relations with Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Ayodhya, he saiid.
Rai also said that the government will release a postal stamp, which is based on the temple design and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will plant a ‘parijat’ (coral jasmine) tree in the premises.
The ceremony will go on till 2 pm tomorrow. An inscription of the temple will also be inaugurated, he said.