Ayodhya, situated in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, is a city of a great religious importance for Hindus, as it is regarded as the birthplace of Lord Rama. The city is of immense value to millions of worshipers. It is also the historical backdrop for the epic Ramayana, a narrative that has resonated through the ages.
But strange things apparently happen even in the sacred cities.
According to local media reports that cited a police complaint, thousands of streetlights set up in Aydohya in anticipation of the inauguration of a $200 million temple by Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been reported stolen.
A report stated that 3,800 bamboo lights, which were affixed to trees along Ram Path, and 36 projector lights, installed on Bhakti Path, have been looted. These two thoroughfares traverse the heart of the town, where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a roadshow earlier this year during inauguration of a temple dedicated to the deity Ram.
Earlier this year, Ayodhya gained significant attention during the grand inauguration of the Ram temple. The event was attended by approximately 8,000 guests, comprising politicians, celebrities, and prominent business figures.
Ayodhya has been a focal point of significant contention between the Hindu majority and the Muslim minority in India. It is widely believed that this location was once home to a Hindu temple, which was destroyed to make way for the Babri Masjid mosque approximately five hundred years ago.
In 1992, Hindu nationalists dismantled the mosque, leading to widespread communal riots and a prolonged legal struggle regarding the ownership of this revered site.
In 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that the contested land should be allocated for the construction of a Hindu temple, while the Muslim community would receive compensation in the form of five acres of land at another notable location within the town.
The government under Prime Minister Modi has allocated $3.85 billion for the redevelopment of Ayodhya in connection with the temple’s construction. This transformation includes the establishment of upscale hotels, enhanced roadways, and upgraded railway services, along with the development of an international airport in the town, designed to accommodate one million passengers each year. The temple, constructed from pink sandstone and black granite, was completed at an estimated cost of $216 million.
According to the reports, the value of the stolen lights is approximately 5 million rupees (nearly $60,000). The contractor who lodged the complaint stated, that during the latest inspection was discovered that “several lights were absent.”
