Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha led a rally from Baikuntha Nath Mandir in the Burrabazar area of north Kolkata to the Ram temple at Central Avenue. The procession was taken out with tableaus and placards depicting Lord Ram and goddess Durga. Chou performers and women wearing yellow and red saris added colour to the procession.

“It is a historic day for the people of the country. Today a saffron tsunami has taken place across the nation,” said Adkhikari.

To mark the occasion, BJP leader and Midnapore MP Dilip Ghosh lighted a ceremonial lamp containing 27 kilos of ghee at the Balaji Temple at Kharagpur Old Settlement in Paschim Medinipur. He later participated in a Ram sankirtan event and distributed laddoos among devotees at the Gopali Ashram in the Kharagpur Rural constituency.

Ghosh accused the state’s TMC government of trying to stop people from celebrating the Ram temple inauguration. “The TMC’s all-faith harmony rally is an attempt to mislead the people. The country is busy celebrating the inauguration of Ram temple. But the TMC is trying to stop people from participating in such celebrations. By organising her rally today, (Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee has tried to divert attention from the historic event,” said the BJP leader.

Later in the day, Banerjee led an all-faith rally from Hazra to Park Circus. She started by visiting the Kali Temple in Kalighat. She will also visit a gurdwara, church and a mosque before the rally culminates.