Chief priest of Ayodhya's Ram temple Mahant Satyendra Das dies at 87

Mahant Satyendra Das, the chief priest of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, died at 87 after a prolonged illness. He had been hospitalized since February 3 following a brain stroke. His last rites will be held on the banks of the Saryu River. Das served as chief priest for nearly 33 years, becoming a key figure in the Ram temple movement. He was appointed in 1992 and dedicated his life to worship and education, despite financial challenges and health issues. In recent years, Das continued his duties even after suffering a minor stroke in late 2024. He requested to step down after the temple's inauguration in January 2024 but was persuaded to remain active with some flexibility in his responsibilities.