Ayodhya Ram Mandir bhumi pujan live updates: PM Modi, UP CM Yogi Adityanath leave for Ayodhya

Read: Covid protocols in place in Ayodhya

PM Modi to plant 'Parijaat' sapling ahead of 'bhoomi pujan'

PM Modi leaves for Ayodhya

'August 5 is historical day', says Ramdev

The yoga guru, who will be attending the ceremony, reached Ayodhya on Tuesday afternoon. Ramdev visited the Hanuman Garhi temple in and morning and speaking to media persons, said, "This day (August 5) is historical and generations will remember the day with great pride. A new history is being written in India and we should celebrate the day."

UP CM Yogi Adityanath leaves for Ayodhya

Ayodhya litigant Ansari invited for bhoomi pujan

Iqbal Ansari, one of the seven litigants from the Muslim side in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit, has been invited for the ‘bhoomi pujan’ for the Ram temple at Ayodhya which would be performed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has also invited social worker Mohammad Shareef, 82, who was awarded Padma Shri this year for performing last rites of more than 25,000 unclaimed bodies over a three-decade span.

Read: Kothari brothers’ kin bring soil from 3 Kolkata shakhas

Temple will pave way for Ram Rajya: VHP chief

VHP working president Alok Kumar said the construction of Ram temple won’t be an end in itself since the larger goal was always to establish “Ramatva”, paving the way for “Ram Rajya”. “There was no poverty and illness during the reign of Ram. Ramatva will descend by way of a harmonious society based on equality, where every person will be treated with dignity,” Kumar told reporters in Lucknow, underscoring VHP’s professed objective to work for the uplift of Dalits and tribals.

Monsoon Diwali illuminates Ayodhya

It was ‘Monsoon Diwali’ in Ayodhya when the sun set over the temple town on Tuesday with ghats, markets, homes and streets coming alive with lakhs of diyas in celebration of the foundation-laying ceremony of the Ram Temple on Wednesday. The entire town, glowing with fresh coat of yellow, rang with notes of Ram bhajan as last-minute arrangements were being briskly put in place.

Ayodhya reverberates with Ramayana chant

The administration identified 25 public places where the Akhand Path started on Tuesday evening. These points were decorated with rangolis and diyas. Meanwhile, about 20 temples also began a reading of the Ramcharitramanas. The continuous recitation will go on till Wednesday as a full reading of the path takes about 24 hours, said Mahant Girishpati Tripathi, head of the Tewari Mandir.

'Gorakshpeeth played vital role in Ram temple crusade'

“Mahant Digvijaynath motivated the Hindu community for liberation of Ram Janmabhoomi and construction of a grand Ram temple at the site all through his life. When Ram Lalla appeared in the disputed structure on December 22-23, 1949, even then Mahant Digvijaynath was doing ‘sankeertan’ (offering prayers) along with some seers in Ayodhya,” said manager of Gorakhdham temple Dwarika Tiwari.