At the Ram Temple Complex, traditional Indian instruments will be performed

Ayodhya: From Uttar Pradesh’s Pakhawaj to Tamil Nadu’s Mridang, diverse traditional instruments from across the nation will be played to honor the Ram Mandir consecration event in Ayodhya, the temple trust has said.

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra’s general secretary, Champat Rai, said that artists from all around India had been chosen to play at the major event on January 22.

In response to inquiries about why the ceremony was taking place in a “incomplete temple,” Mr. Rai said at a news conference on Monday, “I will not respond to any criticism.”

He said that the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ at the temple is scheduled to start at 12:20 pm and should be finished by 1 pm.

According to Mr. Rai, the event will be held in the august presence of Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Uttar Pradesh chairman Minister Yogi Adityanath, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chairman Mohan Bhagwat, and President of the Temple Trust Mahant Nritya Gopal Das.

He further said that around 8,000 individuals had seats reserved.

According to the general secretary of the trust, the chosen artists would perform a variety of Indian traditional “vadya yantra” (musical instruments) from their distinct areas.

He said there will be artists from Uttar Pradesh performing bansuri and dholak; Karnataka performing veena; Maharashtra performing sundari; Punjab performing alghoza; Odisha performing mardala; Madhya Pradesh performing santoor; Manipur performing pung; Assa performing nagada and kali; Chhattisgarh performing tamboora; Bihar performing pakhawaj; Delhi performing shehani; and Rajasthan performing ravanhatha.

Performers from West Bengal’s Shrikhol and Sarod troupe, Andhra Pradesh’s Ghatam, Jharkhand’s Sitar, Tamil Nadu’s Nadaswarm and Mridang, and Uttarakhand’s Hudka will also be present at the event.

According to Mr. Rai, if there are no ceremonial chanting or no one is speaking, they will play the instruments.

Additionally, he informed reporters that L&T and Tata Consulting Engineer officials, who are the two businesses providing project management consulting services for the Ram temple, would be present at the temple inauguration ceremony.

Mr. Rai said that plans have been made for drinking water, restroom blocks, shoe racks, and lunch for the visitors in addition to other things.

The temple trust has sent invitations to the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ to around seven thousand persons. According to government sources, the invitees include Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, billionaire entrepreneurs Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, and cricket icons Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli.

Workers from the RSS and VHP will begin visiting the temple in groups on January 26 and will do so until the end of February, according to Rai.

He continued by saying that during the last several days, presents for the occasion have been received from Jankakpur in Nepal and many locations in India, including Sitmarhi in Bihar.

According to Mr. Rai, lodging arrangements are being arranged for the invitees in Karsewakpuram, Teerth Kshetra Puram, and rooms have also been reserved in a number of hotels and dharmashalas.

According to the general secretary, 53 visitors from 50 countries—including China, the US, Africa, and Gulf countries—will be attending the temple ceremony.