In the second campaign within a year to give an impetus to the construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Monday began a ritual at Karsevakpuram to enlist the support of over five crore (50 million) people for the cause.

At least 200 saffron bags, enclosed with Ram Raksha Sutra (sanctified thread), a map of the proposed temple and soil from the disputed site, are being consecrated at a yagna being held at Karsevakpuram in Ayodhya, Purshottam Narain Singh, in-charge of the VHP in Uttar Pradesh told PTI on telephone.

The consecrated threads would be distributed among 200 VHP organising secretaries on Tuesday on the occasion of Bhimsaini Ekadashi.

The latter would distribute these sacred threads among Hindus across the length and breadth of the country and ask them to take a pledge not to rest until a Ram temple was constructed at the disputed site.

"We expect to reach over five crore people," he said.

The campaign will be carried out in rural areas between July 15 and September 15, while in urban areas the campaign would start on September 15 and continue till October 2.

Senior VHP leaders, including its international president Ashok Singhal, general secretary Pravin Togadia, Giriraj Kishore and Onkar Bhave, are taking part in the event, he said.

Singh said yagna was being performed as per Vedic rites by priests from Varanasi and Allahabad.

PTI