A Lata Mangeshkar memorial was inaugurated in Ayodhya on September 27 on the occasion of the late singer’s birth anniversary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on the occasion that as “Lord Ram was coming to the grand temple” in Ayodhya, the opening of a memorial before that in the name of Lata Mangeshkar, who “kindled love and reverence for Lord Ram” in crores of people, was significant.
Modi appreciated the Yogi Adityanath government and conveyed his best wishes on the inauguration of the Lata Mangeshkar memorial in the temple town. He said, there was a reason for the inauguration of the square named after the singer ahead of the Ram temple. Quoting a couplet from Ramcharitmanas, the PM explained that “devotees arrive before Lord Ram, and that’s why Lata Didi’s memorial comes before the temple”, terming Lata as an ardent “bhakt” (devotee) of Ram. The intersection by the bank of the Saryu river features a 40-ft.-long and 12-metre-high veena weighing 14 tonnes, and 92 lotuses. The chowk was formally inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath.
He recalled that he had received a phone call from Lata Mangeshkar when he laid the foundation stone of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya in August 2020. “She was very happy and emotional,” he said, adding, “She could not believe that the construction of a Ram temple was set to start.” He referred to the singer’s song Mann ki Ayodhya tab tag sooni / Jab tag Ram na aaye.