Today’s Pran Pratishtha ceremony marks a new chapter in the history of India after the end of a 500-year-old Ram Temple movement by Hindus. But a small boatmen community in Ayodhya’s Guptar Ghat is rejoicing after their long-pending demand for a temple of their king will see the light of the day.
Some 5,000 people from the boatmen community have been demanding the construction of a temple of King Nishadraj, who helped Lord Ram cross the Ganga on this way to exile along with Sita and Lakshmana, according to Ramayana.
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has already proposed the construction of the temple on the premises of Ram Temple.
“January 22 is indeed a special day for all. But the day is even more special for Nishads as it will also mark an end to the long-pending demand of the people form our community,” said Bhagwan Din Nishad, a youngster from Guptar Ghat — the area inhabited by some 5,000 Nishad families who are celebrating January 22 as Diwali.
Officials said the trust has unanimously proposed construction of seven temples on the premises of Ram Temple, including one of King Nishadraj.
The Nishad community said they had fought a long battle to highlight the relationship between Lord Ram and Nishadraj in order get the temple made in his honour. “We have been fighting to bring justice to our community, and to highlight the importance of Nishadraj for ages. We have been demanding the construction of a temple for Nishadraj ji in Lord Ram’s Ayodhya. Our struggle is as old as the Ram temple movement’s, which is said to have started during the Mughal era. We are thankful to the Ram temple trust for lending an ear to our demand and for assuring the construction of Nishad Raj ji’s temple on the premises of Ram Temple,” said Santosh Nishad, member of Maharaja Nishad Raj Organisation.
Santosh, while stressing the connection of Lord Ram and their deity Nishadraj, said, “According to Ramayana, when Lord Ram along with his brother Lakshmana and wife Sita was on his way to exile, they reached Shringverpur or Singhraur village, now in UP’s Prayagraj, and sought help from a boatman to cross the river Ganga. However, on boatmen’s refusal, Nishadraj or Nishadraj Guha, the king of Shringverpur, himself reached the site and helped Lord Ram in crossing the river,” he explained. He also said Lord Ram spent a night at Nishadraj’s house.
Apart from the Nishadraj temple, the boatmen community wants the Ayodhya district administration to rename Tedhi Bazar Crossing as Nishadraj Crossing, with the idol of King Nishadraj installed there. The Ayodhya district administration is yet to respond to their demand.
Diwali for Nishad Community
The temple of King Nishadraj receiving a greenlit from the trust has brought smiles to the faces of the community people, who said the day is no less than a Diwali for them. “Other than decorating the house from colourful Rangoli, we are also setting up lights and illuminations in the house in order to celebrate the homecoming of Lord Ram, and the construction of the temple of Nishadraj,” a local, Ram Babu Nishad, said.
Besides those in the Guptar Ghat of Ayodhya, Nishads from other areas, including Meeran Ghat, Jamthara Ghat, Retia Ghat, Kakrai Bazar, Bandha and Darab Ganj, too are celebrating Diwali on January 22.
Recently, Sanjay Nishad, the national president of NISHAD Party and state fisheries minister, called it a “proud” moment that Ayodhya will also have an idol of Nishadraj.
Meanwhile, Yogi Adityanath recently announced the setting up of a restaurant run by the state government in Awadhpuri in the name of ‘Mata Shabari’, and a night shelter in the name of ‘Nishadraj Guha Guest House’.
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