Maharashtra: Shiv Sena (UBT) to perform 'Maha Aarti' in Nashik on Ram Temple consecration day

Uddhav Thackeray. File Pic

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said that the party will perform a 'Maha Aarti' in Maharashtra's Nashik on the Ram Temple consecration day, the ANI reported.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that the party will perform 'Maha Aarti' at the bank of the Godavari River in Nashik on the Ram Temple consecration day on January 22, as per the ANI.

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According to the news agency, vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of Ram Lalla (infant Lord Ram) in Ayodhya will begin on January 16, a week before the main ceremony.

A priest from Varanasi, Lakshmi Kant Dixit, will perform the main rituals of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22. From January 14 to January 22, Ayodhya will mark the Amrit Mahotsav, the ANI reported.

Udhhav Thackeray said, "The birth anniversary of Bala Saheb falls on Janurary 23 but since the consecration ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram Temple is going to be held on January 22, the Shiv Sena will perform a 'Maha Aarti' on that day at the bank of the Godavari River in Nashik."

"We do not want to indulge in matter of who has got the invitation and who has not. When the conseration ceremony will be held in Ayodhya, at the same time, we will participate by offering prayers at the Kala Ram Temple in Nashik. On the same day, we will hold party's conference in Nashik itself," Uddhav Thackeray added, as per the ANI.

Nashik's Kalaram Temple is dedicated to Lord Ram. It is believed that Lord Ram stayed here in Panchvati with wife Sita and brother Laksham during their exile ('Vanvaas').

Udhav Thackeray has not been invited to the grand consecration ceremony.

Earlier, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena (UBT) engaged in a bitter falling out over the issue, with Thackeray saying that he had not been invited for the ceremony.

"First, I have not received any invitation. Second, I dont need an invitation to go there. Ram Lalla is not a party's property, he belongs to everyone. I just want that this event not to be politicised...This decision was given by the Supreme Court, not the government," Uddhav Thackeray said, as per the ANI.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Narayan Rane lashed out at the Shiv Sena leader stating that he should not attend the consecration ceremony.

(with ANI inputs)