People from all walks of life in India are gearing up for the Ram temple consecration at Ayodhya on January 22.?
The 'Kinnar' community in Bareilly is doing something unique for the day - they have said that they will not insist on taking the customary gifts and money from parents for blessing the children born on January 22.?
"We will visit the houses of the families whose children are born on the day of ¡®Pran Pratishtha' at the temple and sing congratulatory songs," Sharda, a member of the community, said.?
But, "We will not ask for 'neg' (money or gifts) from these families for blessing their newborns, but gladly accept whatever they offer us," they said.?
It is said that when Lord Ram was going to exile, everybody started following him but then on his request, everyone except the Kinnars returned to Ayodhya.?
The Kinnars sang hymns in praise of Lord Ram and worshipped him for 14 years near the Tamsa river.?
Lord Rama was happy to see their devotion towards him and so, when he returned to his kingdom, he gave them a 'vardaan' that if the Kinnars blessed the newborns by singing congratulatory songs, then the children would prosper in life.?
"Today it is by the grace of Lord Ram that we give blessings to children," says Sharda.?
Sharda says that they are sending five lamps to every house in the area, so everybody can light the lamps in their homes on January 22.They plan to visit Ayodhya after the "Pran Pratishtha" and also give gifts to the children born on January 22.?
Another member of the Kinnar community, Gauri said that they along with some friends will sing the devotional songs of Lord Ram in the trains on January 22, and will invite every passenger to go to Ayodhya after the consecration ceremony.?
"We are very fortunate to have darshan of Ram temple in our life. In the struggle that lasted about 500, many people passed away with an unfulfilled desire to see the temple of Lord Ram," Sharda said.? ?
For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit?Indiatimes News.