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AYODHYA, India, March 14 (AFP) - Security forces in the northern Indian town of Ayodhya braced Thursday for a possible showdown with hardline Hindus who have been banned from holding a controversial religious ceremony at a disputed holy site.

Nearly 10,000 police and paramilitary personnel were massed in Ayodhya, vastly outnumbering the 1,000 or so Hindu activists who have refused to give up on their Friday ceremony, despite a Supreme Court order to stand down.

The militant Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP - World Hindu Council) has called a meeting of Hindu spiritual leaders later Thursday, aimed at drawing up a strategy in the wake of the court ruling.

The VHP has been leading a long campaign to build a temple to the Hindu warrior god Ram in the town of Ayodhya on the site of a 16th century mosque that was razed by Hindu zealots in 1992.

As part of the campaign, the VHP had planned to hold a religious ground-breaking ceremony close to the site on March 15.

The Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that "no religious activities of any nature, by anyone" would be allowed in the area, but VHP leaders have put their own spin on the judgement and insisted it leaves the door open for a ceremony on land held by the government.

"So the government of India has to again think if it can give us the land which is undisputed," VHP Ashok Singhal said on Wednesday, adding that a "peaceful" ceremony would be held even if it meant facing arrest.

The local authorities in Ayodhya are equally adamant that the court ruling will be upheld.

"The court verdict is very clear -- no ceremony is to be allowed anywhere," said police Deputy Inspector General A.K. Mitra.

"If needed we will arrest the leaders of the VHP but we don't want to unnecessarily provoke the situation," he added.

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