How the day after Supreme Court verdict looked like in Ayodhya
How the day after Supreme Court verdict looked like in Ayodhya
That's what security personnel and officials felt in Ayodhya on Sunday - a day after the Supreme Court delivered its historic judgment in the highly sensitive Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit. Devotees flocked to temples and offered prayers amid tight security, though there was some relaxation. Areas near Hanumangarhi and Naya Ghat were busy from the morning. Bhajans and kirtans echoed in the temple town in the evening. A sense of confidence and trust seemed to build up in minority-dominated areas. Barawafat was observed peacefully. Muslims didn't light candles to ensure it was a low-key affair. People in the Rikabganj area and other parts of the town were seen reading newspapers to understand the nuances of the judgment and also people's reactions across the country. On Saturday, the court backed the construction of a Ram temple by a government trust at the disputed site. It also ruled that an alternative five-acre plot must be found for a mosque in Ayodhya itself. The Bench said the faith of Hindus that Lord Ram was born at the site was undisputed, and he is symbolically the owner of the land. Ram Lalla priest Acharya Satyendra Das said Lord Ram was adorned with a new set of clothes.Many residents said they were relieved that the fractious issue that goes back more than a century and had long polarised the country has been resolved. About 80 per cent of the shops selling utensils, puja items, idols and pictures of gods and goddesses were open. Several eateries and sweet shops were also seen doing business. As barriers have been put up in various parts of Ayodhya, the number of devotees at Hanumangarhi Temple was less than usual. Senior priest of Hanumangarhi Temple, Mahant Raju Das, and local Muslim leader Babloo Khan took a round of the workshop of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas. "This is not just a win for Hindus or Muslims, this is a win for the Janmabhoomi," Das said. "I have been following the Quran in letter and spirit. If Kaba is sacred for the Muslims, then the Ramjanmabhoomi is equally sacred for the Hindus. This is the city of Lord Ram. We welcome the Supreme Court judgment, and each and every citizen should welcome it," Khan said. Both were seen clicking selfies to send a message of communal harmony. People were seen visiting the workshop which has almost turned into a studio for various news channels hosting debates from there Some pilgrims from Nepal were spotted on roads. When asked about their take on the judgment, Sunita said she was happy that Lord Ram will finally get his place. A group of youth from Madhya Pradesh said Muslims greeted them wherever they went in Ayodhya. Bablu Khan, a known Muslim face of Ayodhya said the issue had died and the temple's construction will open the gate of prosperity for both communities. After assessing the ground situation, district authorities relaxed security restrictions. The ban on media's entry to the lanes of Ram Lalla was lifted. But the ban remains in the vicinity of Ram Lalla. Camerapersons were allowed to go deep inside the lanes of Hanumangarhi. Roads were not busy and motorists had to show their identity cards. Traffic on the National Highway linking Ayodhya to neighbouring towns of Basti, Barabnaki, Azamgarh and Ambedkarnagar and to state capital Lucknow was normal. Scenes at Saryu banks were also normal but fewer people were seen because of traffic restrictions. Very few were seen taking a holy dip in the river.