Indian Muslims emphasise peace ahead of new Ram temple inauguration in Uttar Pradesh

Despite rising anxiety and fears, Muslims are determined to maintain peaceful residence in Ayodhya, where millions of Hindu devotees are going to visit on Jan. 22 the new controversial Ram temple at the disputed site of the historic 16th-century Babri mosque.

Muslim residents say they have faith in their Hindu neighbours and the strong community they’ve built, and hope the violent incidents of past does not get repeated, emphasizing that “Peace must triumph at all cost.”

According to locals, Islam has been part of Ayodhya’s indomitable spirit of Ganga Jamuna, a mixture of Hindu and Muslim culture that has existed for hundreds of years. The two communities have remained inseparable and lived through several regime changes in relative peace and harmony.