Devotees stand near graffiti which reads, “Hey Ram” on the premises of Pashupatinath Temple during the Shivaratri festival in Kathmandu March 10, 2013. Celebrated by Hindu devotees all over the world, Shivaratri is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and holy men mark the occasion by praying, smoking marijuana or smearing their bodies with ashes. Ram refers to the name of a Hindu god. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar (NEPAL – Tags: RELIGION SOCIETY) – RTR3ET5I
“In India, nothing can be undertaken or accomplised without the mention of Lord Rama. He represents our faith, and is the focal point of all the beliefs in India,” he told news agency.
The issue of Lord Rama grabbed headlines again yesterday when Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said he would travel to Ayodhya and open talks with stakeholders in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute on November 16.
“I will be going to Ayodhya day after tomorrow, and so far, all talks have been positive,” he said.
He made the announcement on the sidelines of his lecture to students of a university.
Various attempts have been made by all stakeholders till now to resolve the matter amicably. Earlier, the Supreme Court had also suggested that an out-of-court settlement was the best recourse to the dispute.