AYODHYA, INDIA, November 9, 2019 (News 18 ): A sense of relief prevailed on Saturday evening among residents of Ayodhya, irrespective of their faith, with many saying that the Supreme Court verdict has finally ended the uncertainty that plagued the temple city due to the highly-polarizing Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute. Tight security arrangements had been made and most people preferred to stay indoors this morning. But as the judgement was declared and the day passed off peacefully, the hustle and bustle returned to the temple city with devotees flocking to various temples.
While the verdict was greeted with chants of Jai Sri Ram in temples and sweets were distributed by some, there was an absence of any loud celebrations following repeated appeals by authorities as well as political and spiritual leaders to exercise restraint and not indulge in any celebratory frenzy. Anand Kumar, a resident of the temple town and a social worker, said local people were hoping for long that the dispute will be resolved. Pointing towards the flurry of shopping activities in the vicinity of the Naya Ghat, he said, “Most of the devotees are feeling happy as the lingering Ayodhya dispute eventually reached its logical conclusion.”