log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SUNDAY JANUARY 21, 2024 Facebook.com/thegoan 16 pages PRICE ` 10 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME IX, NO.214 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Ayodhya soaks in sacred frenzy ahead of temple consecration  RICH STOCKS OF FLOWERS, SPECIAL LIGHTS ADORN RAM TEMPLE  MODI VISITS TEMPLES IN TN  GOVT ISSUES MEDIA ADVISORY PTI AYODHYA Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday offered prayers at two ancient temples in Tamil Nadu linked to Lord Ram as preparations for the January 22 consecration ceremony in Ayodhya reached a fever pitch with temples across the country decked up to celebrate the event. While security was further stepped up in Ayodhya from Saturday afternoon, the central government also issued an advisory to media outlets and social media platforms cautioning them against publishing any false or manipulated content related to the event in Ayodhya that can disturb communal harmony and public order. At the newly constructed temple, special rituals were performed including bathing Lord Ram’s idol and purifying the Garbh Grah (sanctum sanctorum) with water collected from various religious sites stored in 81 consecrated Kalash (urns). The idol was also offered flowers sourced from different regions of the country for a ritual known as “Pushpadhivas”. Prime Minister Modi, who is undertaking an 11-day ritual of temple visits and religious rites ahead of participating in the consecration ceremo- 14 couples to be ‘yajmans’ for temple event TEMPLE FERVOUR: Life size cutouts of Lord Ram put up in Panaji ahead of the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22.  Narayan Pissurlenkar ny, prayed at the famed Sri Rangam temple in Tiruchirappalli district and the Ramanathaswamy shrine in southern Ramanathapuram district. Prime Minister Modi listened to ‘’Kamba’’ Ramayana recitation by scholars at Sri Rangam, an ancient shrine linked to the Ramayana. “Honoured to have got the opportunity to pray at the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. Prabhu Sri Ram’’s connection with this Temple is long-standing. I feel blessed to have been blessed by the God whom Prabhu Sri Ram also worshipped,” Modi later posted on X. The prime minister has visited several temples having a connect with the Ramayana like Andhra Pradesh’s historic Veerabhadra temple, which has immense significance with its Jatayu episode and Thriprayar Sree Ramaswamy Temple in Kerala’’s Thrissur -- part of a pilgrimage to the abodes of Lord Ram and his brothers. He also visited Ramkund and Shree Kalaram Temple in Maharashtra’s Nashi and Guruvayur Temple in Kerala. On Saturday, ‘’Vastram,’’ a shawl and clothes, were presented to Modi, a traditional way of a temple acknowledging devoutness. Local officials said the clothes will be taken to the Ram temple in Ayodhya, where the consecration of the grand temple will be held on Monday. The Ramanathaswamy temple also has a connect to the Ramayana, as the Shiva linga there was installed by AYODHYA: As many as 14 couples from various parts of the country will perform the duty of ‘yajmans’ (hosts) during the Ram temple consecration ceremony on January 22. “In the main ‘pran pratistha’ puja, 14 couples will be participating. They are from the north, east, west, south and northeast part of India. They will be the ‘mukhya yajmaan’ (main hosts),” Sunil Ambekar, the Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), said. Lord Ram who along with Sita Devi prayed here. With just two days to go for the consecration ceremony, the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya has been decorated with rich stocks of flowers and special lights for the mega event and the entire temple town is soaked in religious fervour. The new 51-inch idol of Ram Lalla, carved by Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj, was placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple on Thursday afternoon. ICC U19 WORLD CUP: INDIA OUTCLASSES BANGLADESH BY 84 RUNS  >>8