Congress govt asks all Karnataka temples to offer special pujas on Ayodhya idol installation day

“This initiative seeks to involve the diverse temples in the state, uniting them in commemorating the auspicious occasion of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir idol installation,” Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR & CE) Commissioner H Basavarajendra told South First. He also confirmed that the temples have been asked to offer special prayers at the auspicious time.

It may also be noted that the BJP had questioned the timing of the arrest of Kar sevak Srikanth Poojari in a three-decade-old, riot case, and called the government, Ram Virudh. Poojari is now out on bail.

Also Read: Srikanth Poojari out on bail, says he will go to Ayodhya

No special grants

In a post on X, Minister Ramalinga Reddy wrote: “I have instructed all Muzrai temples in the state to offer special puja on 22 January, when the idol of Lord Rama will be installed in the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.”

ಅಯೋಧ್ಯೆ ರಾಮಮಂದಿರದಲ್ಲಿ ಶ್ರೀರಾಮನ ಮೂರ್ತಿಯ ಪ್ರಾಣ ಪ್ರತಿಷ್ಠಾಪನೆ ನಡೆಯುವ ಜ.22 ರಂದು ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಮುಜರಾಯಿ ದೇವಾಲಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಶೇಷ ಪೂಜೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಲು ಸೂಚನೆ ನೀಡಿದ್ದೇನೆ. #RamalingaReddy #Karnataka #RamMandirAyodhya #RamMandir #HinduTemple pic.twitter.com/2eTCR9NaJN

— Ramalinga Reddy (@RLR_BTM) January 7, 2024

“The minister has issued a directive to issue an order.  We have already directed all the temples to offer special prayers on 22 January,” HR & EC Commissioner Basavarajendra told South First.

He added that no special grants will be allotted to the temples for offering special prayers.

According to the HR & CE, 34,563 temples are under its control. Among them, 201 temples are notified as Grade A, 139 as Grade B and the remaining 34,223 temples are Grade C. ”

Also Read: BJP cleanliness drive at temples to mark Ayodhya consecration

Siddaramaiah not invited

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar clarified neither Chief Minister Siddaramaiah nor he had received an invitation to the consecration ceremony.

“The chief minister and I have not received any invitation for the inaugural ceremony of Ram Mandir. I have read in the papers that our party chief (Mallikarjun Kharge) has been extended an invitation. The party will decide on it.”  he told reporters in Bengaluru on Sunday, 7 January.

“There is no necessity to mix politics with religion and god. We offer prayers at home by keeping pictures of Lord Shiva and Lord Hanuman. We have kept god in our heart and offered prayers,” he further said.

“The RSS and BJP have started distributing Mantrakshate. They are using rice distributed under Anna Bhagya for Mantrakshate,” he added.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders said no chief minister, expected Yogi Adityantha of UP, has been invited to the ceremony at Ayodhya.