The ‘Pran Pratishtha’ or consecration ceremony of Hindu lord Ram's 'janmbhoomi' temple i.e. the temple of Ram's birthplace, is all set to begin at 12: 20 PM on Monday [January 22, 2024], in Ayodhya city of Uttar Pradesh (UP), India. Tamil star actor Rajinikanth and his former son-in-law Dhanush who is also an popular name in the Kollywood film industry, are part of the guest list who will be attending the fanfare event.  

#Rajnikanth reached #Ayodhya Temple Premises#RamMandirPranPratishta pic.twitter.com/TgDP9LDrX0

— Gulte (@GulteOfficial) January 22, 2024

Recently the duo along with Rajinikanth's immediate family members were seen leaving the Chennai city airport in Tamil Nadu, and being received at Lucknow, UP. Bollywood aka Hindi film industry's senior actor Anupam Kher, took to the X platform to share an image with 'Thalaiva' Rajinikanth registering their emotions before the Ram Mandir (Hindi word for temple) inauguration. 

Amazing to meet my friend and one and only superstar #RajniKanth in Shri Ram Janm Bhumi, #Ayodhya! Jai Shri Ram! ❤️🕉🙏 #Thalaiva pic.twitter.com/XcZplkYP2E

— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) January 21, 2024

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with hundreds of VIPS including movie stars, sports personalities, business people, and political, religious leaders are presiding over the consecration ceremony of the 51-inch 'Ram Lalla' idol, which has been sculpted by Mysuru-based Arun Yogiraj. The Ram Lalla idol is a black stone sculpture that weighs between 150-200 kgs (440 lbs), and depicts the deity as a five-year-old boy. It was picked from a selection of 3 to reside in the sanctum sanctorum. Prior to this Ram temple inauguration, Hindu religious rituals spanning 7 days began on January 16, 2024.

500 ஆண்டுகளாக நடந்து வந்த அயோத்தி பிரச்னைக்கு தீர்வு கிடைத்துள்ளது - நடிகர் ரஜினிகாந்த் #Rajinikanth #ayodhya #AyodhyaRamTemple pic.twitter.com/QKtqh1ALLt

— BBC News Tamil (@bbctamil) January 21, 2024

Rajinikanth was one of the 506 A-listers in India, to be invited to attend the 'Ram Mandir 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony. The consecration ceremony is being held after the first phase of the temple’s construction, made possible by a Supreme Court judgment in 2019 on the Babri Masjid (Hindi word for mosque) case. In 1992, the 16th century Babri mosque was demolished by Hindu 'kar sevaks' (religious volunteers), who argued that a Muslim religion mosque was constructed at the site of a temple, that marked the birthplace of Hindu God Ram. 

The Indian government then proceeded to contract Larsen and Toubro (L&T) for constructing a Ram temple in the place of the Babri mosque. The Ram Mandir after full construction is expected to be a 70-acre complex, costing about Rs. 1500 Cr. So far, the Ram temple structure has been established using the donation of Rs. 3000 Cr., procured by the ruling BJP government.

With the Ram temple consecration, the Hindutva ideology based BJP-RSS government along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hope to land a rare third consecutive term in the upcoming Indian general elections, that will be held between April, 2024 and May, 2024.