India's AYODHYA Jan. 19, Reuters Wealthy followers are getting ready for the invitation-only opening ceremony of one of Hinduism's holiest temples, and the private jet parking lots at airports close to the Indian city of Ayodhya are filled and the shops have ran out of gold-plated idols.

Approximately 8,000 people attended the Ram Temple's dedication on Monday, including Asian wealthiest man Mukesh Ambani and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The temple is dedicated to the birthplace of the sacred Hindu deity Lord Ram.

A major campaign pledge made by Modi and his Hindu nationalist party is being fulfilled by the temple's construction, which got underway after the Supreme Court granted Hindus ownership of the site in 2019, more than 20 years after a Hindu mob destroyed a mosque there and started violent rioting.

The temple's building trust is hosting the inaugural event, which is anticipated to draw a star-studded crowd months ahead of the country's general election, which the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is predicted to win.

Rajan Mehra, CEO of Indian luxury charter company Club One Air, remarked, "It's become like a status symbol to be invited to this event." He also mentioned that his fleet, which includes the Dassault Falcon 2000, is scheduled to make many visits next week.

Officials predict that on January 22, 100 private aircraft would land at Ayodhya airport, filling it to capacity. Jet slots at Gorakhpur airport, a three-hour drive away, and those at Varanasi, a city around four hours distant by driving, are both fully booked.

Mehra withheld the cost of the charter, while JetSetGo listed a round-trip Falcon 2000 jet ticket from Mumbai to Gorakhpur at $74,000. Jewelers benefit from the occasion since gold products sell out quickly. Popular items include gold sculptures and temple reproductions that range in price from $361 to $2,647; some are imported from Thailand. According to Baldev Singh of HS Jewellers in Lucknow, there is a two-week waiting period due to stock constraints caused by high demand. The temple in Ayodhya sets off an economic boom, making the city a centre for pilgrimages and driving up property values.

Amitabh Bachchan paid $1.7 million, which is nine times the average land price in the past, for a 10,000 square foot site in Ayodhya. The site is a part of the opulent House of Abhinandan Lodha development, which has a pool and spa. HoABL Chairman Abhinandan Lodha observes that there is a sizable demand from Indians living in India and those who do not, driven by their emotional attachment to the Ayodhya story as well as their economic potential.