NEW DELHI, INDIA, March 20, 2020 (Sputnik News): Hindus in a northern Indian state were excited about the upcoming Ram Navami, a nine-day festival to mark the birth anniversary of the important Hindu Deity Lord Rama. This year, the celebrations were special due to the Ayodhya verdict, which allowed Hindus to retain disputed land to build a temple dedicated to Lord Rama. A day after receiving a nod from the government to celebrate the nine-day religious fair from 25 March to 2 April, Vishwa Hindu Parishad cancelled the rallies to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Rama against the backdrop of the coronavirus outbreak on Friday. The decision comes amid the health hazard posed by the coronavirus outbreak, where authorities have banned social gatherings of people to control the spread of the disease. A Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh-affiliate will observe a quiet ceremony for shifting Lord Rama to a new fiberglass structure so that construction of the temple can be expedited.
See also: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/ayodhya-restricts-entry-of-pilgrims-visitors/article31132051.ece