Ayodhya priest & 15 policemen part of Ram Mandir bhoomi poojan test coronavirus positive

11 priests from Varanasi and Ayodhya will perform the puja. The priest, Pradeep Das, who tested positive for coronavirus is not in this group of 11 elite priests.

The trust has decided to sanitize the whole site on a daily basis. Mahant Kamal Nayan Das, successor designate to Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, chairman of the Trust says, "There is nothing to worry about. One of the priests who perform daily rituals at the temple site has tested positive. The entire campus will be sanitized on a routine basis."

This rather alarming development has been reported in the midst of Diwali like preparations are going on as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the ceremony on August 5.

Meanwhile, an appeal has been issued to all the saints across the country to perform puja and rituals in their respective temples and Maths from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm on August 5 by the Shri Ram Bhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

The general secretary of the trust, Champat Rai, called people to watch the live telecast of the ceremony on television and light earthen diyas (lamps) at their respective houses in the evening.

Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, also went to review the preparations on the site of the Ram bhumi poojan complex, last week.

Almost 200 people have been invited for the programme and chief ministers of different states will also be invited, said Swami Govind Dev Giri, who is the treasurer of the trust. A trust official also informed LK Advani, the former deputy prime minister and other leaders under Ram Janmabhoomi agitation will also be invited.

Preparations are being planned for three-day Vedic Rituals at the site. The construction of the much-awaited temple will begin after the basic rituals are performed on August 3 and August 4; the bhoomi poojan will take place on August 5.