The consecration of the Ram Temple in India's holy city of Ayodhya offers Prime Minister Narendra Modi a strong start to his 2024 re-election campaign by delivering on the issue that first propelled his party to the front stage of Indian politics. On Jan. 22, Modi led the consecration of the Ram Temple in the city of Ayodhya, located in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state. The new temple is situated at a site that many Hindus believe to be the birthplace of Rama, a major Hindu deity, and was built over a demolished 16th-century mosque. Modi conducted religious rituals and unveiled the idol of Ram Lalla during the inauguration ceremony, which was attended by over 7,000 guests, including elite industrialists, politicians and movie stars. The event saw major religious celebrations across the country and within Hindu communities abroad, with numerous state governments in India declaring Jan. 22 as a day...
