Ayodhya: Longing for this moment became reality exactly at 12.44.08 pm, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the first brick for the construction of the Ram Temple on Wednesday, the atmosphere in Ayodhya suddenly turned electric.
Groups of people holding saffron flags came out of their homes in the temple town and its adjoining town of Faizabad and started celebrating on the road. The chant of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ rented the air in the narrow and cramped lanes in Ayodhya.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, 28 years after the demolition of Babri Masjid at the same spot. The wait of centuries has ended and India is creating a golden chapter in Ayodhya, he said in a speech following the ground-breaking ceremony.
PM Modi said that attempts were made to finish his existence, but Lord Ram is the basis of India’s culture.
Returning to the temple town of Ayodhya after nearly 30 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, clad in a traditional golden coloured dhoti-kurta, performed the 'bhoomi pujan' of the proposed Ram Mandir, saying centuries of wait had ended.
Addressing the selected gathering after the foundation stone laying ceremony, PM Modi said a grand temple would now be built for "our Ram Lalla who has been living under a tent for many years" as chants of 'Jai Siya Ram' and ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai‘ reverberated in the air. Sharing the dais with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Trust chief Nritya Gopaldas Maharaj, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, PM Modi said the proposed Ram temple would become the modern symbol of our traditions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed gratitude to all citizens of the country, the Indian diaspora across the world and all the devotees of Lord Ram as he laid the foundation stone for Ram temple in Ayodhya. This is the first time that a Prime Minister has visited Ram Janmabhoomi to offer prayers at the sanctum sanctorum where the deity has been worshipped since 1949.
The Prime Minister started his address with “Jai Shri Ram” chant. “This chant is not just echoing in Ayodhya but in the entire world,” he said.
He also said that Ram Lalla (infant Lord Ram) who has been living in tents for years will finally get a temple of his own now.
“Today, Ram Janmbhoomi breaks free of the cycle of breaking and getting built again - that had been going on for centuries,” said PM Modi.
“Lord Ram is in our hearts, whatever work we have to do he is our inspiration,” the prime minister added.
He further said that attempts were made to finish the existence, but Lord Ram is the basis of India’s culture.
“The movement for building a Ram temple had dedication, struggle and resolve. I bow to those people whose sacrifice has made this possible,” PM Modi said.
Before the ceremony, the prime minister visited the Hanuman Garhi temple where he performed aarti of Lord Hanuman. Ramesh Das, the head mahant of the temple, gifted a turban and a crown to PM Modi.PM Modi has come to Ayodhya after a gap of 29 years. It was in 1991 when he last visited the city.
He has been associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) movement to build a Ram temple for a long time. He was a part of veteran BJP leader LK Advani’s Rath Yatra in 1990.
Supreme Court had last November permitted the construction of a Ram temple at the site where the Babri Masjid stood till December 6, 1992.
In 1991, when he last visited Ayodhya, Modi had said that he will come to city only when the construction of Ram temple begins. That was made possible by a judgement of the Supreme Court in November last year when a bench headed by former chief justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi ruled in favour of Hindus.
The Muslims were given land separately for the construction of a mosque