Entry to Ayodhya shut due to stampede-like situation as people break through security
Ram Mandir has opened for people starting today, lakhs flood the holy city.
The conclusion of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony for the new Ram Lalla idol in Ayodhya on January 22 resulted in a surge of devotees at the Shri Ram Temple the next day. Eager to offer prayers and catch a glimpse (‘darshan’) of the idol, devotees crowded the main gate, leading to the breach of security barricades as they attempted to enter the temple. The crowd, consisting of local residents and visitors from various states, began gathering outside the temple gates from late Monday night, with some arriving as early as 3 am on Tuesday.
This significant turnout reflects the devotees’ eagerness to witness the idol for the first time after its consecration, as reported by the news agency ANI. The temple, adorned for the occasion, announced its public opening from Tuesday.
To facilitate darshan, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra website provided specific visiting hours: a morning slot from 7 am to 11:30 am and an afternoon slot from 2 pm to 7 pm. Additionally, the temple’s ‘aarti’ timings were set for 6:30 am (jagran/shringar) and 7:30 pm (sandhya aarti), with passes available both online and offline. The latter can be obtained at the camp office at Shri Ram Janmbhoomi upon presenting valid government identification.
However, the overwhelming turnout of devotees from across the globe has raised significant concerns about security management and preventing breaches amidst the large crowds. Authorities are reportedly struggling to manage the vast number of people waiting in long queues.
The situation at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir gate has been described as near-chaotic, resembling a stampede, raising fears that not all devotees will be able to have darshan. This situation is expected to persist over the next few days, as indicated by the current crowd levels and visuals emerging from the site.
