Today is 22nd Jan and as I write this blog, India is rebranding this date to celebrate the inauguration of Ram temple at Ayodhya. I sense quite a bit of euphoria around the event on my way to school and back as I witnessed people wearing saffron scarfs with Hanumanji / Ramji painted, cabs, auto rickshaws, places displaying flags etc. As a Bharatanatyam dancer I live the stories and characters of Ramayana quite often. Ramrajya or the kingdom of Sri Ramchandra sets the highest example of peace and prosperity and Sri Ram as one of the avatars of Lord Vishnu exemplifies strength, equity and social justice. While there is a religious context to this episode, there is a social and economic angle to it as well.
Economically Ram temple at Ayodhya is likely to be a monument to reckon, a historical place to visit and a religious place to worship bringing people from all the corners of the country and even from across the borders bolstering the hospitality and tourism industry. An investment of close to INR 1800 crores ( >USD 200 million) will soon be paid back by the additional tax revenues accruing to the centre and the state. Socially, I see people connecting on this inauguration not only in Ayodhya or in the up north but also in down south. The celebration is comparable to none in the recent history, the only parallel could have been if Indian cricket team had won the world cup.
(PS: forgive me for posting 4 days late)
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