Ayodhya: Unprecedented security arrangements have been made for the Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan in Ayodhya on Wednesday. The bhoomi pujan will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, UP Governor Anandiben Patel and CM Yogi Adityanath, apart from saints and sages from across the country as well as Nepal.

Champat Rai, general secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, has said that unprecedented security arrangements have been made in Ayodhya for the Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan programme.`

Guest list: The much-awaited bhoomi pujan will be attended by 175 guests, which will include PM Modi, RSS chief Bhagwat, UP Governor and CM, Sri Ram Janambhoomi Teerath Kshetra Trust chairman Nritya Gopal Das and saints from across India and Nepal. "One hundred seventy-five eminent guests have been invited for the Bhumi Pujan of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir. One hundred thirty-five Pujya Sants belonging to 135 spiritual traditions will be present in the programme. Some eminent citizens of Ayodhya have also been invited," the Teerth Kshetra Trust`s official Twitter handle said.

Senior BJP leaders LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi will join the programme via video conferencing. Uma Bharti has also declined her invitation quoting risk of Covid-19 infection to PM Narendra Modi. "There are certain practical difficulties in the arrival of some guests due to Corona pandemic. The arrival of people who are aged above 90 years is not appropriate under present circumstances. Pujya Shankaracharya ji & many Pujya Sant have expressed inability to attend due to Chaturmas," the trust tweeted.

Mohammad Yunus of Faizabad, who has received the Padma Shri for performing last rites of unclaimed corpses, has also been invited to the bhumi pujan. One of the main litigants in the Ayodhya land dispute case Iqbal Ansari has also been invited to the bhoomi pujan.

Invitations: Champat Rai told Aaj Tak that the invitation cards are being handed out to guests on a one-to-one basis. Those who reside in Ayodhya will receive their invitations on Monday. Those who will arrive on Wednesday will be given their cards before the event. The invitations are being sent out in the name of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Governor Anandiben Patel and CM Yogi Adityanath.

Security: The security arrangements for the event are very strict. Explaining the security arrangements, Champat Rai said that the invitation letter carries a security code, which can be swiped only once. The invitation card also has a serial number, which cops will cross-check at the entry. Thus, the card is non-transferable and can be used only once. No gadgets, vehicle passes: No electronic device, mobile or camera will be permitted at the venue. The guests will not be issued any vehicle passes. The parking arrangments have been made in front of Amava Temple. The guests will have to walk about 250 steps to reach the venue.

Ram Ki Paidi illuminated ahead of the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the Ram Temple, in Ayodhya. (PTI)

Timings of the programme: All guests will be expected to be seated by 10.30 am. The programme will be held between 8 am and 2 pm. PM Narendra Modi will first do Darshan-Pujan at Hanumangarhi Mandir, after which he will do puja of Bhagwan Shri Ramlalla at Ram Janmabhoomi. It will be then followed by the bhoomi pujan and the stage event. The muhurt for the groundbreaking ceremony is at 12.15 pm. Apart from the bhoomi pujan, the PM will also unveil a Rs 5 postal stamp with the new model of Ram temple to commemorate the event.

"Sacred soil from more than 2000 teerth sthan and water from more than 100 rivers has been brought to Ayodhya for bhoomi pujan. Sants have sent many auspicious materials for bhoomi pujan. We call upon all Rambhakts across the world to organise bhajan, kirtan and prasad distribution in all villages and cities while taking all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus," the trust said in another tweet.

The three scholars who will supervise the ceremony have reached Ayodhya from Kashi Vidhya Parishad. These three scholars are: Professor Ram Narayan Dwivedi, Chairman of Astrology Department Pandit Vinay Kumar Pandey, and Ram Chandra Pandey. Speaking to India Today TV, the scholars said that there will be no groundbreaking during the ceremony, only the foundation stone and land will be worshipped.

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