Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday performed the 'bhoomi pujan' of a Supreme Court-mandated Ram temple in Ayodhya, bringing to fruition the BJP's 'mandir' movement that defined its politics for three decades and took it to the heights of power.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were among those who attended the event at the site where a large number of devout Hindus believe Lord Ram was born.
The guest list, including religious leaders who formed part of the movement that started in the 1980s, was restricted to 175 in view of the COVID-19 crisis.
As a priest chanted Sanskrit 'shlokas' and the ground-breaking ceremony got under way under a giant marquee decorated in shades of reds and yellows, Modi and the other dignitaries, all in masks, maintained social distancing and sat a safe distance away from each other.
Slogans of 'Bharat Mataki Jai' and 'Har Har Mahadev' went up as the ritual ended and the prime minister laid the foundation of the temple.
Bhajans and 'shlokas' were heard as the town, festooned with marigold flowers and yellow and saffron flags, celebrated the beginning of the construction of a grand Ram temple. Roads leading to Ayodhya were adorned with hoardings of the proposed temple and of Ram Lalla, the infant Ram, the deity now housed in a makeshift temple. Most shops were painted in bright yellow.
The prime minister arrived in Ayodhya in a helicopter where Adityanath among others received him.
Before the function to lay the foundation stone of the 'Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir', the prime minister took part in prayers at the Hanumangarhi temple.
From there, he travelled to the 'Shree Ram Janmabhoomi' where he performed prayers at the 'Bhagwan Shree Ramlala Virajman'.
He also planted a Parijat (Indian night jasmine) sapling.
He will unveil a plaque to mark the laying of the foundation stone and also release a commemorative postage stamp on the 'Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir'.
See pictures of PM Modi attending Ayodhya Bhoomi Pujan;
Prime Minister Narendra Modi being welcomed by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ahead of the inception of Bhoomi Pujan for the construction of Ram Temple, in Ayodhya | PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers to Ram Lalla at Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya on Wednesday. | PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath being felicitated by a priest during his visit to Hanuman Garhi, in Ayodhya. | PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers to Ram Lalla at Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya on Wednesday. | PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs Bhoomi Pujan, at Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya on Wednesday. | PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs Bhoomi Pujan, at Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya on Wednesday. | ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi after offering prayers to Ram Lalla before the Ram Temple foundation stone laying ceremony, at Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya on Wednesday. | ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers to Ram Lalla at Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya on Wednesday. | ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers to Ram Lalla at Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya on Wednesday. | ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs sashtang pranam (prostration) while offering prayers to Ram Lalla at Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya on Wednesday. | ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs Bhoomi Pujan, at Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya on Wednesday. | PTI
Bricks laid as part of 'Bhoomi Pujan' for RamTemple in Ayodhya. Soil from more than 2000 pilgrimage sites and water from more than 100 rivers was brought for the rituals. | ANI
