Will visit Kalaram temple in Nashik, perform 'maha aarti' on Jan 22: Uddhav Thackeray

Yet to receive an invitation to the Jan. 22 Ayodhya Ram Temple event, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray says he and his party leaders will visit Kalaram temple in Nashik on that day and perform a 'maha aarti'.

Mumbai:Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray Saturday said he will visit Kalaram temple in Nashik on January 22, the Ayodhya Ram Temple consecration day, and perform a 'maha aarti' on the Godavari river bank.

Thackeray has not received an invitation for the consecration ceremony so far. Speaking to the media after paying respects to his mother late Meena Thackeray on her birth anniversary, Thackeray said he will visit Ayodhya whenever he feels like.

"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," he said.

Last Saturday, Thackeray had told reporters, "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 had contributed a lot to the Ram temple movement."

As for Kalaram temple, located in Panchavati area of Nashik, it is dedicated to Lord Ram and derives its name from the Ram idol carved out of black stone. It is believed that Lord Ram stayed in Panchavati with wife Sita and his brother Lakshman during their exile. In 1930, Dr Ambedkar had led a protest at the Kalaram temple to seek entry of Dalits into the temple.

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