Renowned Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has been invited to participate in the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony, a significant event scheduled to take place on January 22 in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The invitation was personally delivered to Ashwin by Tamil Nadu’s BJP State Secretary Dr. SG Suryah and Vice-President Venkatraman C at his Chennai residence on Friday, January 19.
The ceremony, which marks the consecration of the Ram Mandir, is expected to be attended by over 6000 guests and is organized by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The list of invitees includes eminent personalities from various fields, including cricket and cinema.
Ashwin’s invitation follows similar gestures extended to other cricket luminaries such as MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma, and Sachin Tendulkar. Dhoni, who is currently preparing for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 in Ranchi, was invited earlier this month by Dhananjay Singh, co-province secretary of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and Karmaveer Singh, Jharkhand state Organization General Secretary of BJP.
In the lead-up to the ceremony, the installation of the Ram Lalla idol, a 51-inch figure crafted by Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj, was completed in the temple’s sanctum on Friday. This installation marks a significant milestone in the series of rituals preceding the temple’s consecration on Monday.
However, there is speculation regarding the availability of Indian cricketers, particularly those in the Test squad, to attend the ceremony. With preparations for the upcoming 5-Test series against England scheduled to commence in Hyderabad by January 20, it remains uncertain whether the players will be able to participate in the event.
The 5-Test series against England holds great significance as it marks India’s first home Test series in over five years. The series will see India, led by Ben Stokes, face a formidable English team that has been preparing for the contest with a training camp in the UAE.
As the ceremony draws near, the cricketing community awaits further developments regarding the participation of Indian cricketers in this auspicious event.
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