The grand opening of a temple in Ayodhya was both a religious ritual and a made-for-TV spectacle for a broadcast media co-opted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Tag: Ayodhya (India)
Why India’s New Ram Temple Is So Important
Its site is sacred to Hindus, and it also represents the much more recent victory of Hinduism as a political identity.
Modi Opens a Giant Temple in a Triumph for India’s Hindu Nationalists
The temple inaugurated by the prime minister is on the disputed site of a centuries-old mosque destroyed in a Hindu mob attack that set a precedent of impunity in cases of violence against Muslims.
Indian Court Acquits Hindu Leaders of Demolishing Historic Mosque
The 1992 destruction of the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya by Hindu nationalists sparked sectarian violence in a country where Muslims feel increasingly oppressed.
India’s PM, Narendra Modi, Founds Temple on Ayodhya Mosque’s Ruins
In a ceremony in Ayodhya, a past flash point for sectarian violence, India’s prime minister offers his Hindu nationalist base a clear symbol of ascendancy.
Court Backs Hindus on Ayodhya, Handing Modi Victory in His Bid to Remake India
The ruling paves the way for Hindus to build a temple where the Babri Mosque once stood, a decision that raised fears of sectarian tensions.
Under Modi, Hindus Find Hope for a Temple on Disputed Speck of Land
Hindus and Muslims have long sparred over a few barren acres in the city of Ayodhya. But since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commanding election win, Hindus feel a new optimism.
Modi Has a Huge Mandate in India. Now What Will He Do?
A mix of hope and fear defined his first five years as prime minister. Both supporters and critics wonder whether a defining victory will tilt him more to one side.
That’s a Lot of Lamps: 300,000 Lit in India for Diwali, Breaking Record
Hundreds of thousands of lamps illuminated the northern city of Ayodhya for Diwali, casting a glowing light over the city. But there was concern that the spectacle could contribute to air pollution.