Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief who has not been invited for the consecration ceremony at Ayodhya Ram temple on January 22, on Saturday said he will pay a visit to the Kalaram temple in Nashik with his party leaders on that day and will also be performing a ‘maha aarti’ on the Godavari river bank.
While talking to the reporters, the former Chief minister of Maharashtra said that after paying his respect to his mother, late Meena Thackeray on her birth anniversary, he will visit Ayodhya whenever he will feel like visiting.
“The consecration of Ayodhya Ram temple is a matter of pride and self-respect. On that day (January 22), we will visit the Kalaram temple at 6.30 pm where Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and (social reformer) Sane Guruji had to stage protests. At 7.30 pm, we will hold a maha aarti on the banks of the Godavari river,” Thackeray said.
The Kalaram temple which is located in the Panchavati area of Nashik city, is dedicated to Lord Rama. It is also believed that Lord Ram stayed in Panchavati with wife Sita and his brother Lakshman during their exile of 14 years.
Thackeray addressed the reporters on Saturday and said, “I have not received any invitation yet and I don’t need one to visit Ayodhya as Ram Lalla belongs to everyone. Whenever I feel like it, I will go. Shiv Sena contributed a lot to the Ram temple movement.”
