Ram Mandir Bhoomi Pujan Latest Updates:

Ayodhya is decked up for the 'bhoomi pujan' on Wednesday that will be attended at the Ram Janmabhoomi by 175 people, who figure in a select guest list of seers and politicians topped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Here are the latest updates from the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Bhoomi Pujan today:

PM Narendra Modi: I believe that this grand Ram temple to be built in Ayodhya, like the name of Shri Ram, will reflect the rich heritage of Indian culture. I believe it will inspire the entire humanity till eternity.

PM Modi: With the construction of this temple, not only history is being made, but is being repeated. The way boatmen to tribals helped Lord Ram, the way children helped Lord Krishna lift Govardhan mountain, similarly, with everyone's efforts of temple construction will be completed.

PM Modi: It is my good fortune that I was invited to witness this historical moment... From Kanyakumari to Kshirbhavani, from Koteshwar to Kamakhya, from Jagannath to Kedarnath, Somnath to Kashi Vishwanath...today entire country is immersed in Lord Ram.

#RamMandir will become the modern symbol of our traditions. It'll become a symbol of our devotion, our national sentiment. This temple will also symbolise the power of collective resolution of crores of people. It will keep inspiring the future generations: PM Modi in #Ayodhya pic.twitter.com/ShBEUCFbNw

— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2020

PM Modi: A grand temple will now be built for our Ram Lalla who had been staying in a tent. Today Ram janmbhoomi breaks free of the cycle of breaking and getting built again - that had been going on for centuries.

PM Narendra Modi: 'Jai Siyaram'. This call is resonating not only in the city of Lord Ram but throughout the world today. I express gratitude to all citizens of this nation, Indian diaspora across the world and all the devotees of Lord Ram on today's pious occasion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes the stage, urges attendees to chant 'Jai Siya Ram', says, "This chant is not just echoing in Ayodhya but in the entire world."

Ayodhya: PM Narendra Modi releases a commemorative postage stamp on the 'Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir'.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveils the plaque of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveils the plaque of #RamMandir in #Ayodhya. President of Ram Mandir Trust Mahant Nitya Gopal Das, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, UP Governor Anandiben Patel and RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat also present with him. pic.twitter.com/BLExodooMz

— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2020

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat: Our country believes in 'Vasudev Kutubhkam' i.e. World is One Family. We believe in taking everyone along. Today is a new beginning of a new India.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat: We'd taken a resolution. I remember the then RSS chief Balasaheb Deoras telling us that we'll have to struggle for 20-30 yrs, only then will this be fulfilled. We struggled for 30 years & in the 30th year, we've attained the joy of fulfilling our resolution.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat: So many people had sacrificed, they couldn't be here physically. There are some who couldn't come here, Advani ji must be at his home watching this. There are some who should've come but couldn't be invited because of the situation (COVID-19).

UP CM Yogi Adityanath: Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, the power of India's democratic values and its judiciary has shown the world that how can matters by resolved peacefully, democratically and constitutionally.

President Ram Nath Kovind congratulates all on the inauguration of the Ram Temple construction. "Temple complex, I believe, will become a symbol of modern India based on the ideals of Ramrajya," President tweets.

Ayodhya: Ram Temple 'Bhoomi Pujan' concludes. Stage event to follow shortly. PM Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, Governor Anandiben Patel & President of Ram Mandir Trust Nitya Gopal Das will be on stage for the event.

Ayodhya: #RamTemple 'Bhoomi Pujan' concludes.

Stage event to follow shortly. PM Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, Governor Anandiben Patel & President of Ram Mandir Trust Nitya Gopal Das will be on stage for the event. #Ayodhya pic.twitter.com/cFCUHkN637— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2020

The priest at Ram Temple 'Bhoomi Pujan' says, "Nine bricks are kept here... these were sent by devotees of Lord Ram from around the world in 1989. There are 2 lakh 75 thousand such bricks out of which 100 bricks with 'Jai Shri Ram' engraving have been taken."

With the bhoomi pujan ceremony for the construction of a Ram temple being held in Ayodhya on Wednesday, the Shiv Sena has termed the development as

"fulfilment" of party founder Bal Thackeray's dream. The NCP, which is one of the constituents in the Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government, said the ceremony is a "matter of joy" for all and that Lord Ram is the deity of Indians.

Karnataka: Special prayers being conducted at Sri Rama Temple Rajajinagar, Bengaluru as 'Bhoomi Pujan' is underway at Ram Janambhoomi site in Ayodhya.

PM Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat take part in 'Bhoomi Pujan' at Ram Janambhoomi site in Ayodhya. 175 guests are present for the ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ Ram Temple.

Tamil Nadu: BJP members and workers perform special prayers at the party office in Kamalalayam. The foundation stone laying ceremony of #RamTemple is underway in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes part in Ram Temple 'Bhoomi Pujan' at Ayodhya. Earlier, the PM planted a Parijat sapling, considered a divine plant, ahead of foundation stone-laying of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. He also offered prayers to Ram Lalla, performed 'sashtang pranam' (prostration) at Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes part in Ram Temple 'Bhoomi Pujan' at Ayodhya pic.twitter.com/Qal0jH3Edy

— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the temple town of Ayodhya on Wednesday to lay the foundation stone of the Ram temple.

Wearing traditional dhoti-kurta, the prime minister deboarded an Air Force helicopter which flew him here from Lucknow. He was welcomed at the Saket helipad by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, among others.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers to Ram Lalla, performs 'sashtang pranam' (prostration) at Ram Janmabhoomi site.

#Ayodhya: Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers to Ram Lalla, performs 'sashtang pranam' (prostration) at Ram Janmabhoomi site. pic.twitter.com/XA5Pg5Xed8

— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2020

The ground-breaking ceremony by Prime Minister Modi for the temple's construction, in the presence of leading lights of Hindutva movement including RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, is being held on a day which coincides with the first anniversary of the annulment of Article 370, a key ideological plank for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Ahead of the ground-breaking ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday extended greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for coming to the state to fulfil the desire of devotees for construction of a grand temple. In a tweet, the chief minister cited a couplet from Ramayana and greeted devotees of Lord Ram with "Jai Shri Ram". "On behalf of all Ram bhakts I extended my 'Ram Ram' to the Prime Minister who is coming to pious land of Uttar Pradesh to fulfil their much-awaited desire of construction of a grand and divine temple of Dashrath son's Shri Ramlalla in Awadhpuri (Ayodhya)," the CM said in another tweet in Hindi. The chief minister is in Ayodhya to oversee preparations for the bhoomi poojan of the temple.

ALSO READ | Ayodhya: The story of a town

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Tuesday hit out at the Congress saying the party that denied the existence of Lord Ram is now signing his praise after taking a 'U-turn' over the issue. His comments came after Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said Lord Ram belongs to everyone and that she hoped the ground-breaking ceremony of the temple in Ayodhya becomes a celebration of national unity.

A group of Left-leaning women's rights activists have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to attend the bhoomi pujan ceremony, to initiate the Ram temple construction, to be held on Wednesday in Ayodhya. The National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) said that it was "disappointed" at the participation of the Prime Minister of India in laying the foundation of the temple.

Swami Chidananda Saraswati: This is a signature event. This event will give a glimpse of India's 'unity in diversity'. It will bridge gaps and bring people together. We all are one-'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan: “PM will lay the foundation stone of Ram Temple today in Ayodhya. The 'mahayagya' which started 500 years ago, is culminating today. The willpower & resolve shown by PM Narendra Modi has today made him the tallest leader of India in the last 500 years.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for Ayodhya to take part in the Ram Temple event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for #Ayodhya to take part in #RamTemple event.

(Photo source: PMO) pic.twitter.com/VU9uGmzdJB— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2020

The VHP Tuesday said the bhoomi pujan ceremony for a Ram temple in Ayodhya is a rare moment that comes once in several lifetimes and that they are overjoyed, but are making sure the event does not become a coronavirus hotspot. Vishva Hindu Parishad national working president Alok Kumar also rejected questions about the muhurta of the event, saying the "best advice" has been taken including from the Head of the Jyotish Department of the Banaras Hindu University on the timing of the ceremony.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday said Lord Ram belongs to everyone and hoped the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya becomes a celebration of national unity, brotherhood and cultural harmony. In a statement ahead of the 'bhoomi poojan' of the Ram temple on Wednesday, she said for ages Lord Ram's character has served as a source of unity for the entire Indian sub-continent. This is probably the first time a member of the Gandhi family has come out with a bold statement in devotion of Lord Ram. Congress has over the years sought to present itself as a secular party and did not openly embrace Hinduism, and this marks a shift.

Maharashtra: Rangoli decoration outside Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's office in Nagpur

Maharashtra: Rangoli decoration outside Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's office in Nagpur #RamTemple pic.twitter.com/GmDPhOOCDm

— ANI (@ANI) August 5, 2020

Senior BJP leader and North Delhi Mayor Jai Prakash on Tuesday started a 24-hour 'hawan' ahead of the 'bhoomi pujan' for the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Prakash, who held the ceremony at the official mayor's residence on Lancers Road in Timarpur area, said he was doing this in his "personal capacity".

On Tuesday, a day before the scheduled bhoomi pujan for a Ram temple here, people from different walks of life lit earthen lamps to celebrate their "moment of joy". As the evening progressed, Ram bhajans echoed at virtually each and every street of the temple town and earthen lamps lined the streets from Naya Ghat and Ram ki Paidhi to Hanumangarhi, giving children a perfect selfie background. The bridge over river Saryu in Ayodhya wore an illuminated look on Tuesday evening.

ALSO READ | Ayodhya Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan: Here's a timeline of the events

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Wednesday attend a public function on laying of the foundation stone of 'Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir' at Ayodhya. Prior to the function, the prime minister will take part in 'pooja' and 'darshan' at Hanumangarhi, a statement by the PMO said on Tuesday. Modi's visit to Ayodhya for the foundation stone laying ceremony is now officially confirmed.

From Hanumangarhi, he will travel to 'Shree Ram Janmabhoomi' where he will take part in pooja and darshan of 'Bhagwan Shree Ramlala Virajman'. He will also plant a Parijat (Indian night jasmine) sapling. Modi will subsequently perform 'bhoomi pujan', the statement said. He will unveil a plaque to mark the laying of the foundation stone and also release a commemorative postage stamp on 'Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir', the statement further said.

First Published:Aug 5, 2020 9:33 AM IST