The invite mentions Prime Minister Narendra Modi and three more names, indicating a vastly trimmed list in the time of COVID-19.
ALSO READ|Uma Bharti To Skip Ram Temple ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ Due To Covid-19| Here’s The Tentative Guest List For the Ceremony
Five people will be on the stage - PM Modi, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Mahant Nritya Gopaldas.
Lord Ram on Invitation Card
The invite also has an image of the idol of "Ram Lalla" or infant Lord Ram. Each invitation has a security code that will work only once; if the guest exits the venue they will not be allowed back in, according to Champat Rai of the Ram Temple trust.
Guest list: The bhoomi pujan will be attended by 175 guests, including the above-mentioned names, saints from across India and Nepal will also participate in the grand ceremony. "One hundred seventy-five eminent guests have been invited for the Bhumi Pujan of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir. One hundred thirty-five Pujya Sants belonging to 135 spiritual traditions will be present in the programme. Some eminent citizens of Ayodhya have also been invited," the Teerth Kshetra Trust's official Twitter handle said.
Senior BJP leaders LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi will join the programme via video conferencing. Uma Bharti has also declined her invitation quoting the risk of Covid-19 infection to PM Narendra Modi.
First invitation to Iqbal Ansari
The first invitation card for the "Bhoomi Pujan" of Ram temple in Ayodhya was received by Iqbal Ansari, who was one of the litigants in Ayodhya land dispute case.
"I believe it was Lord Ram's wish that I receive the first invitation. I accept it. Hindus and Muslims live in harmony in Ayodhya. The temple's land is being worshipped and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming for the event to Ayodhya," Ansari told ANI.