Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited the iconic Kalaram Mandir in Maharashtra’s temple town of Nashik. The site is deeply intertwined with Hindu mythology as part of the Ramayana’s Panchavati area where Lord Ram resided in exile.The temple has drawn other leading figures too – Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray announced he would offer prayers on Ram Mandir consecration day. panchavati earned its name from five auspicious banyan trees present during Ram’s stint described in the Ramayana epic.It was also where demon-king Ravan deceitfully abducted Sita triggering the climactic war. On March 2nd, 1930, Dr. Ambedkar organized a mass protest by Dalits outside the Kalaram temple demanding their right to enter Hindu shrines. Truckloads of demonstrators encircled the temple staging sit-ins over days, singing songs and shouting slogans seeking temple access.
