Decked up temple town ready to greet 7K guests

Ayodhya: Of the over 7,000 dignitaries invited for the consecration ceremony due on January 22 in Ayodhya, 506 have been given the status of state guest by the UP government.

Sources said that those who would be welcomed to the ceremony as state guests include corporate captains such as Ratan Tata, and Mukesh Ambani, actors Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Anupam Kher, singer Usha Mangeshkar, RS member and former Olympian PT Usha.

The list of state guests also comprises Punit Goenka, Mriduhari Dalmiya, sculptor and architect Ashish Sompura, political leader Subramaniyam Swami, Admiral Ram Das, retired Supreme Court Judge Abdul Nazeer, mountaineer Bachhendri Pal, actors Akshay Kumar, Prabhas, Allu Arjun and Chiranjeevi.

Cricketing stars Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly will also be the state guest. Sources said invitees in large number have confirmed their visit to the temple town to be witness to the consecration ceremony. The state authorities are on their toes to ensure the best possible arrangements for the invitees.

Of the total invitees, 4,000 are saints and seers from across the country. As per temple trust sources, representatives from 50 countries are also expected to come to Ayodhya for the ceremony which will be held in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Meanwhile, in the run-up to the historic event, the Ram Janmabhoomi (RJB) premises are being prepared to receive the invitees. The Ayodhya administration is making seating arrangements for around 9,000 people in an open pandal spread across 3 lakh sq ft.

While the stage is taking shape, the pandal will have 13 blocks with similar chairs for all invitees. A red carpet has been rolled out and spread wall-to-wall across the pandal.