Ram Mandir Bhoomi Poojan: Here's PM Modi's itinerary for August 5

Narendra Modi, Prime minister of India | Though almost all of India’s Prime Ministers have come from the nearly 80% of the population that is Hindu, only Modi has governed as if no one else matters,” writes Karl Vick, Time editor. (Image: Reuters)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Ayodhya on August 5 for the Ram Temple foundation-laying ceremony, will first perform darshan-poojan at Hanumangarhi Mandir, followed by pooja of Ram Lalla at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi.

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According to news agency ANI, this will then be followed by bhoomi poojan and the stage event.

PM Modi is expected to leave for Lucknow from Delhi at around 9:35 am and will land at Lucknow airport at around 10:35 am, News18 reported. The prime minister is then expected to fly to Ayodhya in a helicopter and will land at the helipad located at the Saket College ground at around 11:30 am.

PM Modi will reach Hanumangarhi at around 11:40 am and he is expected to reach Ram Janambhoomi premises at around 12 pm. At around 12:15 pm, the prime minister will plant a 'Parijat' sapling on the Ram Janmabhoomi site, according to News18.

PM Modi is expected to lay the foundation stone at around 12:40 pm. He is expected to fly back to Delhi at around 2:20 pm.

"Around 175 eminent guests have been invited for the Bhumi Poojan of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir. PM Modi, Mohan Bhagwat, Nritya Gopaldas Maharaj, Governor Anandiben Patel and CM Yogi Adityanath will be present on stage," Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra said in a statement.

However, only five dignitaries will be present on the stage during the bhoomi poojan event, reports suggest.

The less number of people mentioned on the official invitation hints at a trimmed guest list amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. Many political leaders in Uttar Pradesh, and across the country, have been infected by COVID-19 in recent days.

On August 5, the prime minister is expected to place a 40-kg silver brick as a symbolic start of the construction of a Ram Mandir.

Construction of the temple has been at the heart of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) agenda for decades and a key election promise.

On November 9, 2019, the Supreme Court of India (SC) -- in a historic judgment -- awarded the disputed land in Ayodhya to Ram Lalla Virajman and directed the Centre to form a trust within three months to oversee the construction of the temple.

Consequently, the ‘Sri Ram Janambhoomi Teerth Kshetra’, which is responsible for the temple’s construction, was established in February.

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