"We have called a Hindu meeting in the afternoon to create awareness. We are expecting around a 1,000 people to attend," said Sharad Sharma, spokesman of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) in Ayodhya.

Hindu activists say the mosque was built by Muslim rulers after they tore down a temple marking the birthplace of the Hindu god Ram, but the claim has not been backed by historical evidence.

"The Hindu community keeps a watch, has expectations about the issue. That is why we organise programmes every year on the anniversary to keep the memory alive," said Lallu Singh, a former state assembly member for the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh state, home to Ayodhya.

Security was stepped up around the site of the 1992 mosque demolition which sparked one of India's worst sectarian riots in which more than 2,000 people died.

"Since 1992 both the communities have been organising different programmes. The Hindus celebrate the day as 'Valour Day' while the Muslims mourn it as 'Black Day'," said Ayodhya's police superintendent S.S. Baghel.

He said the government was taking all precautions to maintain peace and added there was no sign of trouble.

In national capital New Delhi, 200-300 Muslims demonstrated near the parliament building to demand rebuilding of the mosque.