Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 12 visited the Kalaram Mandir on the banks of the Godavari in the Panchavati area of Nasik city.
Key points
- The Kalaram temple derives its name from a black statue of the Lord — Kala Ram translates literally to “Black Ram”.
- The sanctum sanctorum has statues of Ram, Sita, and Lakshman, and a black idol of Hanuman at the main entrance.
- The temple is also the site of a landmark agitation led by Babasaheb Ambedkar demanding temple entry rights for Dalits more than 90 years ago.
- In 1930, B R Ambedkar and the Marathi teacher and social activist Pandurang Sadashiv Sane, known as Sane Guruji, led an agitation to demand access for Dalits to Hindu temples.
- On March 2, 1930, Ambedkar organised a large protest outside the Kalaram temple.
- The satyagraha at the Kalaram temple continued until 1935, Keer wrote.
