Jubilant devotees across India celebration opening of controversial Hindu temple

Описание: (22 Jan 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ahmedabad – 22 January 2024
1. Various of people holding fireworks celebrating Ram Temple opening, people holding a cutout of Lord Ram
2. Various of people lighting fireworks
3. People holding religious flags and standing next to a cutout of Lord Ram
4. Firework going off, people chanting (Hindi) “Victory to Lord Ram”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mumbai – 22 January 2024
5. Wide of people setting off fireworks
6. (Hindi) “Victory to Lord Ram” written on decoration
7. Various of fireworks going off
8. People dancing
9. Wide of people watching temple ceremony on large screen

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ayodhya – 22 January 2024
10. Various of boats on Saryu River
11. Various of people watching temple ceremony on large screen
12. Wide of Dhananjay Anand Giri from Uttarakhand state walking along with his group; giri chanting (Hindi) “Victory to Lord Ram”
13. SOUNDBITE (Hindi) Dhananjay Anand Giri, devotee:
“There is no end to our happiness. After so many years Ram has arrived and residents of Ayodhya would have never believed that anything like this can happen.”
14. Wide of Dr. Kalpana dancing
15. SOUNDBITE (Hindi) Dr. Kaplana (only one name given), devotee:
“I feel really lucky (to be here). And this is an experience of a lifetime for us, and I feel as if Lord Ram invited me here to be in the function and to celebrate.”
16. Wide of police on street, flower decorations
17. Wide of police on street, people standing on pavements watching ceremony
18. Close of flags showing picture of Lord Ram
STORYLINE:
Jubilant devotees celebrated across India after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday opened a controversial Hindu temple built on the ruins of a historic mosque in the northern city of Ayodhya.

The temple delivers a crucial Hindu nationalist pledge that Modi’s governing party hopes will catapult him to a record third successive term in upcoming elections.

The temple, which is still under construction, is dedicated to Hinduism’s Lord Ram and fulfills a long-standing demand by millions of Hindus who worship the revered deity.

Modi’s party and other Hindu nationalist groups portrayed the temple as central to their vision of reclaiming Hindu pride.

Modi led the opening ceremony as Hindu priests chanted hymns.

Millions of Indians watched the ceremony on television, with news channels running non-stop coverage of the event, portrayed as a religious spectacle.

Nearly 7,500 people, including elite industrialists, politicians and movie stars, witnessed the ritual on a giant screen outside the temple as a military helicopter showered flower petals.

AP video shot by Rishi Lekhi, Rafiq Maqbook, Ajit Solanki

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