New Delhi, April 2 Ayodhya is not merely a geographical space, but a symbol of India's cultural and civilizational continuity, and the holy city can become a center of India's soft power, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Friday.
In his address at the Ayodhya Parv 2026 hosted at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) here, Sinha also said that amidst the global volatility, the values of 'maryada' (dignity), 'dharm' (righteousness), 'kartavya' (duty), and 'tyag' (sacrifice), espoused by Lord Ram, become more relevant.
Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari, RSS leader Suresh Bhaiyajji Joshi, and former Ayodhya MP Lallu Singh, among others, were present on the dais.
Sinha said Ayodhya as a holy town embodies India's cultural roots, and underlined that no nation can grow without taking care of its "roots".
"Ayodhya is an important pillar of India's global recognition, economic power and cultural continuity," Sinha said.
He emphasised that Ayodhya can become a "centre of soft power" of India, from where a message of the country's cultural richness and ethos can go out to the wider world.
"Ayodhya is not just a holy pilgrimage site for us, it is a symbol of the idea embodied in our 'sanatan' culture that no nation can become powerful without embracing its roots.
"Today, many nations, by preserving their heritage, are presenting their soft power to the world. For India, Ayodhya can become one such centre," Sinha said.
While many civilizations and cultures have been wiped off the face of the Earth, Ayodhya has stood firm against the ravages of time, Sinha said.
"We need to establish Ayodhya as a spiritual centre on a global level, a place where humans treat nature not as a a resource but a living truth," he said.
Amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, the L-G said there is a need for building bridges, not battlefields.
RSS leader Joshi said India witnessed a paradigm of change with the coronation of Shivaji Maharaj.
The Mughal rulers controlled most of the territories when a Hindu ruler came up, he said.
Joshi described the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya as another "golden chapter" in India's cultural journey.
"A symbol of slavery that had stood for 400 years was removed and Lord Ram's 'Pran Pratishtha' was done. We were fortunate to witness the sign of disgrace getting removed, and a grand temple being built," the RSS leader said, adding, "It means, we are in consonance with Lord Ram".
On December 6, 1992, the centuries-old Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished by an army of 'Karsevaks', triggering communal riots in parts of the country.
On November 9, 2019, a five-judge Supreme Court bench headed by then CJI Ranjan Gogoi paved the way for the construction of the Ram temple and ruled that an alternative five-acre plot be found for a mosque in Ayodhya.
The 'Pran Pratishtha' of the Ram Lalla deity was performed on January 22, 2024, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Joshi said the making of a temple was not a difficult thing, as it can be built with resources.
"A legal fight was fought. And, beginning of the work to "bring change" happened in the "100th year", and a saffron flag was hoisted over the temple," Joshi said, describing it as "God's plan".
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) completed 100 years in 2025.
Referring to Lord Ram vanquishing Ravana, but not taking the throne of Lanka, Joshi said, "He (Lord Ram) was fighting for establishing righteousness, and nor for himself."
So, "anti-social, anti-national and immoral forces should be removed" to establish a 'Ram Rajya', he said.
In her address , Diya Kumari said a host of events have been planned to mark 300 years of Jaipur in 2027, and suggested that an edition of Ayodhya Parv can be hosted in the Rajasthan capital as part of it.