Devotion vs. Order: Crowd Control Mars Post-Consecration Ram Mandir

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's consecration ceremony, a significant number of devotees flocked to Ram Mandir to see the idol of Ram Lalla, challenging the security measures in place.

More than 8,000 VIPs departed the town with the memory of being the privileged first to offer prayer at the temple and get prasad, so large throngs gathered there that police and paramilitary forces had to use force to control.

Several worshippers were forced to leave the temple without making an offering on Tuesday when security guards who had been acting civilly with guests until Monday transformed into soldiers brandishing batons. A few worshippers were hauled from the place by their legs and arms.

"On Monday, the policemen were extremely polite and smiled when advising us to avoid coming on Ram Path (in front of the temple), but on Tuesday their cordiality had vanished and their baton was speaking," said Rahul Barman of East Burdwan, Bengal, who was forced to leave Ayodhya without offering prayers at the Ram temple.

Barman, whose relative resides in Varanasi, said, "I am going to Varanasi today (Tuesday) to offer prayer at Kashi Vishwanath temple and will be back to Ayodhya in February to see the Ram temple."

"While I waited for the temple to open for us in Ayodhya, I slept on the floor of a retail center that was still under construction along Ram Path. Although the security guards used to patrol the area, they never mistreated me or any other devotee who was staying there, according to Barman.

"They came and asked us not to sleep there in the night because we were security threats to the leftover VIPs who would visit Ayodhya," Barman said. "That was Tuesday morning."

Soon after using a lathi-charge to break up the throng, several police officers were seen standing on two raised platforms at the temple's main entrance, using hand-held loudspeakers to announce to the faithful that they should be patient and not rush to enter the temple, but rather should wait in line.

"They could access the temple between 6.30 and 11.30 a.m., but after that, we had to use some light force to keep the mob under control. Additionally closed at the time and reopening at 2:30 pm was the temple, according to an unnamed police officer.

"The VIPs are more keen to see the temple than the other pilgrims, therefore we have no choice. Every time, we are compelled to organize for the VIPs' admittance and close off both sides of Ram Path near the temple. Today, a large number of top Lucknowi officials came here with their family and prayed at the shrine. "How should the crowd be managed?" the officer asked.

"There is no problem here," said Piyush Mordia, the assistant director-general of police in charge of Ayodhya's security. People are easily making their way to the temple. After praying there, many who had been in line since the morning had already left. We ask everyone in this large throng to be patient.

Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, visited Ayodhya and met with the police inside the precincts of the temple. "We appeal to the devotees to visit Ayodhya after a week," he subsequently said.

"Around 50,000 devotees offered prayers at the temple by Tuesday afternoon," said the temple's chief priest, Satyendra Das. This figure can reach three lakh each day.