Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed the bhoomi poojan and laid the foundation stone for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, on August 5.
After laying the first brick for the temple, PM Modi said the wait of centuries has ended and that India is writing a golden chapter in the holy city.
The prime minister left from New Delhi in the morning for Uttar Pradesh’s capital Lucknow, boarding an Air Force plane. From Lucknow, a helicopter flew him to Ayodhya, where the ground-breaking ceremony was scheduled to be held in the afternoon. He was welcomed at the Saket helipad by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
After reaching Ayodhya, PM Modi, along with the chief minister, offered prayers at the Hanumangarhi temple. He was gifted a headgear by the chief priest of the temple.
After spending some time at the Hanumangarhi temple, PM Modi headed to 'Shree Ram Janmabhoomi', the site where a large number of devout Hindus believe Lord Ram was born.
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The prime minister reached Ram Janmabhoomi, where he offered prayers to Ram Lalla Virajman, the infant Ram. He also planted a Parijat (Indian night jasmine) sapling on the site.
After worshipping the deity, PM Modi performed the bhoomi poojan of the Supreme Court-mandated Ram temple. The ground-breaking ceremony proceeded under a giant marquee decorated in shades of reds and yellows, while a priest chanted Sanskrit shlokas.
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PM Modi and other dignitaries were all wearing masks in view of the coronavirus pandemic. They maintained social distancing and sat a safe distance away from each other.
Following the ground-breaking ceremony, PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the Ram temple.
He unveiled a plaque to mark the laying of the foundation stone and also released a commemorative postage stamp on the Ram temple.
PM Modi began his speech with chanting ‘Jai Siya Ram’ and told the gathering that a grand temple will be built for ‘Ram Lalla’, who had been living in a temporary tent for years.
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In his address, PM Modi paid respect to the people who made sacrifices for the Ram temple. Sending out the message that "Ram is everywhere, Ram belongs to all", the prime minister said the temple symbolises India's rich heritage and will be an inspiration for the entire humanity.
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