Havan, multi-faith prayers to kick off new Parliament inauguration
The Sengol will be installed near the chair of the Speaker in the new Parliament building
By Newsmeter Network Published on 26 May 2023 10:51 AM GMT
New Delhi: The ceremony to inaugurate the new Parliament building will begin with an early morning havan and a multi-faith prayer on Sunday, followed by a formal opening in the Lok Sabha chamber by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Officials said the havan will be held in the Parliament premises outside the new building around 7 a.m. where the ceremonial sceptre Sengol will be handed over to Mr. Modi by the high priests of the Shaivite order.
The Sengol will be installed near the chair of the Speaker in the new Parliament building.
The main inauguration event is likely to begin on Sunday noon in the presence of Prime Minister Modi, former vice-president M. Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, and Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh among others.
Invitations have also been extended to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former Lok Sabha Speaker Shivraj Patil, Congress president and leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, and leaders of Opposition parties.
Who’s attending, who’s boycotting the inauguration
Friendly parties, including regional ones like AIADMK, Shiv Sena (Shinde), BJD, BSP, and SAD have marked their attendance for the event, which includes 25 parties — 18 NDA constituents and seven non-NDA parties.
From Andhra Pradesh, the ruling YSRCP president and Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said they will attend the inauguration. Jagan will be in Delhi on Friday evening. Opposition TDP supremo gave his support for the inauguration, instructing Rajya Sabha MP Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar to represent the party at the ceremony.
Meanwhile, 19 Opposition parties, including the Congress, AAP, DMK, TMC, NCP, and CPI, recently issued a joint statement to announce their intention to boycott the inauguration ceremony.
The triangular-shaped four-storey Parliament building will have three main gates — Gyan Dwar, Shakti Dwar, and Karma Dwar. The new Parliament building, constructed by Tata Projects Ltd., will have a grand constitution hall to showcase India’s democratic heritage, a lounge for members of Parliament, a library, multiple committee rooms, dining areas, and ample parking space.
With inputs from PTI
