Prime Minister Narendra Modi today laid down a silver brick to mark the foundation ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
The construction of the grand Ram temple at Ayodhya, whose ‘bhoomi pujan’ was performed on Wednesday, is expected to be completed in the next three years, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) said.
VHP international president Vishnu Sadashiv Kokje said there is enthusiasm among Hindus across the world over the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Ram temple. He also blamed the Congress for the delay in the temple’s construction, PTI reported.
Earlier today, beginning his speech with the slogan of “Jai Siya Ram,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the event a historic occasion. “I am grateful to witness history being made. Crores of Indians cannot believe that this day has come. The entire country is in the spell of Lord Ram,” Modi said after he laid down a silver brick to mark the foundation ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Modi was among the 175 people present at the ceremony. He shared the dais with just four other people — RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, trust chief Nritya Gopaldas Maharaj, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, and CM Yogi Adityanath. Keeping in mind the pandemic, seating arrangements were made in accordance with social distancing principles. Before this, the prime minister along with Adityanath had offered prayers at Hanuman Garhi. Modi also paid a visit to Ram Janmabhoomi.
In pictures | PM Modi performs bhoomi pujan for Ram temple in Ayodhya
A computerised 3D view of the Ram temple
Fire brigade personnel sanitise the area near Saket Degree College ahead of the ground breaking ceremony for the Ram Temple, in Ayodhya. (Photo: PTI)
Workers clean Ram Ki Paidi in Ayodhya. (Photo: PTI)
BJP MP from Bangalore South Tejavi Surya on Wednesday triggered a fresh controversy after he tweeted that the “control of state power by Hindus is absolutely essential for sustenance of Dharma”. His tweet came even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed the bhoomi pujan of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
“Dear Hindus, Most important lesson is that control of State power by Hindus is absolutely essential for sustenance of Dharma. When we didn’t control State, we lost our temple. When we regained, we rebuilt. The 282 in 2014 & 303 in 2019 to Sri @narendramodi made today possible!” the 29-year-old posted on Twitter. Read the full report here.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant Wednesday said that laying of foundation for a Ram temple in Ayodhya is like a "dream coming true for Lord Ram devotees".
In a video message, Sawant recalled leaders like L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, (late) Atal Bihari Vajpayee who had spearheaded the movement for the construction of the temple.
"Several Ram bhakts have sacrificed their lives for this day. We are lucky to witness this day," he said.
"This day will remain etched in the memory of every Indian. May the blessings of Bhagwan Shree Ram always be upon us. May India scale new heights of progress. May every Indian be healthy and prosperous," Prime Minister Modi said in a tweet.
The construction of the grand Ram temple at Ayodhya, whose 'bhoomi pujan' was performed on Wednesday, is expected to be completed in the next three years, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) said.
VHP international president Vishnu Sadashiv Kokje said there is enthusiasm among Hindus across the world over the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Ram temple. He also blamed the Congress for the delay in the temple's construction, PTI reported.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanth presented an idol of Lord Ram to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Wednesday said the struggle of several years materialised with the 'bhoomi pujan' of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, and this day will be written in golden letters in history books.
The beginning of construction of a grand temple of Lord Ram on Wednesday proves that the BJP always fulfils its commitments, he said. (PTI)
Soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed the ‘bhoomi poojan’ of the proposed Ram temple in Ayodhya, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said Lord Ram was the ultimate embodiment of supreme human values and could never appear in cruelty, hatred or injustice.
Tweeting in Hindi, Gandhi said, “Maryada Purshottam Lord Ram is the ultimate embodiment of supreme human values. He is the core of humanism embedded deep in our hearts”.
“Ram is love, he can never appear in hatred. Ram is compassion, he can never appear in cruelty. Ram is justice, he can never appear in injustice,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Heeraben watching the Ayodhya Bhoomi Poojan event.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's attendance at the Ram Temple "Bhoomi Pujan" event in Ayodhya was a"victory of Hindutva over secularism".
"The Prime Minister of India going over there and attending this Bhoomi Poojan... today is a victory of Hindutva over secularism," Owaisi was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
"Today is a victory of majoritarianism over liberty and equality. By attending, the Prime Minister has not only laid the foundation of a Mandir but also the foundation of a Hindu Rashtra," Owaisi told reporters.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed 'Bhoomi Pujan' for the Ram temple in Ayodhya, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday called for preserving brotherhood between communities and the age-old legacy of unity in diversity.
"Our country has always upheld the age-old legacy of unity in diversity, and we must preserve this to our last breath!" she tweeted.
After performing the ‘bhoomi pujan’ of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday said the wait of centuries has ended and that India is creating a golden chapter in Ayodhya. Beginning his speech with ‘Jai Siya Ram’, the Prime Minister told the gathering that a grand temple will be built for ‘Ram Lalla’, the infant Ram, who had been living in a temporary tent for years. He said that the construction of the Ram temple is an instrument to unite the country.
Here are some of the top quotes from his address:
“India is creating a golden chapter in Ayodhya, wait of centuries ends today.”
“Grand temple will be built for Ram Lalla who lived in a temporary tent for years.”
“Many people made sacrifices for Ram temple, I pay respect to all of them.”
“Ram temple construction in Ayodhya will lift the entire region’s economy.”
“Despite efforts to eradicate Lord Ram’s existence, he still lives in our heart and is the basis of our culture.”
“Ram temple construction is the instrument to unite the country.”
“Social harmony was the core principle of Lord Ram’s governance.”
“Ram is everywhere, Ram belongs to all.”
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the "leader of five centuries" who resolved the equally old dispute with his efficient leadership and paved the way for the construction of a grand temple of Lord Ram in Ayodhya.
"The country had seen many big leaders who had led effectively. The country also saw leaders (of calibre) who were unique in a decade and even in a century. But PM Modiji has become the leader of five centuries," Chouhan said in a tweet.
In another tweet, he said, "The illustrious Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, has not only ended the 500-year-old dispute with his efficient leadership but also paved the way for the construction of a grand temple of Lord Ram. This has become possible due to the strong will of Modiji and by the blessings of Shriram".
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi Wednesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has "violated the oath of the office" after he laid the foundation stone of Ram temple in Ayodhya.
"India is a secular country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has violated the oath of the office by laying the foundation stone of Ram Temple. This is the day of the defeat of democracy and secularism and success of Hindutva," Owaisi was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
"The Prime Minister today said he was emotional. I want to say that I am also equally emotional because I believe in coexistence and equality of citizenship. Mr. Prime Minister, I am emotional because a mosque stood there for 450 years," he added.
Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya Wednesday in a tweet said that control over the state by Hindus was “absolutely essential” for the “sustenance of dharma”. He also said that Hindus “lost” the temple earlier because they had no power over the state. “When we regained, we rebuilt,” he said.
"With the foundation laying ceremony of Ram Temple, India has shown how the 500-year-old dispute has been resolved peacefully," Union Minister Prakash Javadekar told news agency ANI on Wednesday.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said Lord Ram is the ultimate embodiment of supreme human values and can never appear in cruelty, hatred, or injustice. In a tweet in Hindi, Gandhi said, "Maryada Purshottam Lord Ram is the ultimate embodiment of supreme human values. He is the core of humanism embedded deep in our hearts".
The Ram Temple in Ayodhya, whose ‘bhoomi pujan’ will be performed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (August 5) is being built by the Sompura family of temple architects, led by the patriarch Chandrakant Sompura who first visited the site where the Babri Masjid once stood more than 30 years ago. Read our full report here.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ayodhya for a grand groundbreaking ceremony for Ram Mandir. Here's what all happened today.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Wednesday offered prayers with his family at his residence on the occasion of Bhoomi Puja for the construction of Ram Temple. "The Vice President described the construction of the temple as a re-coronation of the highest human values of truth, morality, and ideals that the Maryada Purushottam epitomized during his life," his office said in a tweet.
Patna’s Mahavir Mandir Trust said it will be distributing 1.25 lakh ‘Raghupati Laddoos’. Of the total number of this special Indian sweet, 51,000 laddoos are to be given to Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on the occasion of the “bhoomi pujan”.
Made of pure cow ghee, the remaining amount of laddoos will be sent to the temples in Janaki’s birthplace at Sitamarhi in Bihar and 25 other pilgrimage places where it is believed that Lord Ram’s footprints lie. They will also be distributed among devotees of Lord Ram and Hanuman in different parts of Bihar, said Mahavir Mandir trustee Acharya Kishore Kunal.