In run-up to Ayodhya, PM Modi’s circumambulation of other Ram temples

Leading up to the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22, just days away from now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting temples with some connection to Lord Ram during his official visits to states.

In the past week, the PM has visited different states to unveil developmental projects or to carry out party activities, but the messaging has been linked to Lord Ram.

On Wednesday, the PM, who is in the middle of 11-day rituals leading up to the inauguration, offered prayers at Lord Krishna Temple in the Guruvayur town of Thrissur district, where he also attended the wedding of the daughter of actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi.

He then went to the Triprayar Sree Ramaswamy Temple, situated on the bank of the Karuvannur river, also known as Theevra river, in Thrissur. Dressed in a mundu (dhoti) and ‘veshti’ (white shawl), the PM carried out a meen oottu (fish feeding) ritual there.

This visit to Kerala by Modi, the second one in two weeks, is being widely seen as a way of energising the BJP cadre ahead of the 2024 elections — with the temple visit ahead of the consecration in Ayodhya adding to the importance.

During his last week to Kerala, a couple of days ago, Modi had spoken of Kerala’s annual ‘Nalambalam Yatra’, held for Ram and his brothers Bharat, Lakshman and Shatrughan, in Triprayar.

On Tuesday, the PM visited the Veerabhadra temple in the Lepakshi town of Sri Satyasai district of Andhra Pradesh. Lepakshi is the place where the mythical vulture Jatayu is said to have fallen when he was wounded by Ravan in his efforts to stop the abduction of Sita.

Modi hummed bhajans for Ram, listened to special hymns on Ram in Telugu, and also witnessed a puppet show on the Ramayana at the Lepakshi temple.

Later, inaugurating