Amid social distancing protocols and a nationwide lockdown, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath early on Wednesday participated in an event to shift the idol of an infant Lord Ram to a temporary structure in the Ram Janmabhoomi compound in Ayodhya till the construction of a Ram Temple.
Mr. Adityanath’s action stares in the face of his own appeal to the public to not participate in religious events as part of a social distancing protocol against the COVID-19 outbreak. The State had recorded 37 positive cases till Tuesday.
He also presented a cheque of ₹11 lakh to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra for the construction of the temple.
As per a video clip shared by a government spokesperson, Mr. Adityanath can be seen chanting mantras in front of the idol along with a group of priests.
While sharing pictures of the ritual on Twitter, Mr. Adityanath said “the first phase of the construction of a grand Ram Mandir concluded today, maryada purshottam (the most dignified man) lord Ram has moved from a tarpaulin tent to a new seat.”
The idol of ‘Ram Lalla’ was shifted to a temporary structure near the Manas Bhawan.
Many prominent seers from Ayodhya as well as the district magistrate, district police chief and Additional Home Secretary Awanish Awasthi attended the event, in which Mr. Adityanath walked out of the makeshift Ram temple carrying the idols to the temporary location.
After performing the ritual himself, Mr. Adityanath then appealed people to perform their rituals on Navratri from home, saying it would help curb the spread of COVID-19.
