Mumbai: Oil lamp ceremonies, indoor prayers to mark Ram temple foundation ceremony in Ayodhya

MUMBAI: Certain temples, disparate right wing groups and common citizens will variously celebrate Wednesday's foundation ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
The GSB community is wearing its heart on its sleeve at Walkeshwar and Vashi. The historic Banganga tank in Walkeshwar, whose sweet water spring is believed to have risen from Lord Ram's arrow, was the venue of a deepotsav Tuesday evening. Oil lamps were lit in the presence of temple trust chairman Pravin Kanvinde who was accompanied by BJP leader Mangalprabhat Lodha.

The Balaji temple in Vashi will light lamps inside the precinct and illuminate the exterior Wednesday evening, said president SR Pai. Bhajans will be performed mindful of social distancing norms.
Chinmaya Mission Mumbai will web stream live chants and prayers in the forenoon. Meanwhile a small number of social media users is urging Hindus to light diyas and erect gudis.
At a housing complex in Thane's Ghodbunder Road, a resident used the common Whatsapp groups to call for celebration. "Let us all together make the Ram Mandir foundation event a big celebration in our complexes/ homes. Shall we all together come to the balcony and blow the shankh (conch), light a lamp and ring the bells at the exact same time of the foundation?" read his message. While his call for joint festivity did not find support, some residents did string decorative lights that read 'Jai Shri Ram' in their windows from Monday.
Meanwhie, the Muslim community will spend the day in quiet prayer. "We will pray for peace in our nation in the confines of our homes. We are true Indians so we are dutybound to accept the court verdict, and prove our patriotism," said Shuiab Khatib, chairman of the Juma Masjid Bombay Trust.
"We will pray to Lord Almighty and seek justice individually, not by gathering people in any place due to the Covid-19 lockdown. We did not even offer Eid prayers in congregation to respect these norms," said Maulana Burhanuddin Qasmi of Markazul Ma'arif Jogeshwari.