Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to Ayodhya on Wednesday after 29 years to fulfil his promise and perform the “bhoomi pujan” of the proposed Ram Mandir. Clad in a golden dhoti-kurta, PM Modi addressed the gathering after the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the grand temple, saying it would be the modern symbol of our traditions and “an instrument to unite the country”.
“A grand temple will now be built for our Ramlala who had been staying in a tent. Today Ram Janmabhoomi breaks free of the cycle of breaking and getting built again, that had been going on for centuries,” said PM Modi as he shared the dais with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Ram Janmabhoomi Trust chairperson Mahant Nritya Gopal Das Maharaj, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
As chants of “Jai Siya Ram and “Bharat Mata ki Jai” reverberated in the air, PM Modi added, “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… Despite efforts to eradicate existence of Lord Ram, he still lives in our heart and is basis of our culture. Ram is everywhere, Ram belongs to all.”
The ceremony, which was held 10 months after the historic verdict of the Supreme Court, was certainly curtailed due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, but it marked the pinnacle of the BJP’s decades-long movement that brought it to the political centre-stage. 5 August also marks one-year anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 which was the other ideological core to the BJP.
CM Yogi Adityanath, at the event, said it was PM Modi’s “foresight and wisdom” that paved the way for peaceful resolution of the Ram Mandir issue.
“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,” said RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, mentioning how the RSS and other like-minded organisations worked over 30 years to fulfil the dream.
PM Modi, along with CM Adityanath, first visited the Hanuman Garhi temple to offer prayers and was presented a silver “mukut” and a stole by the head priest. Then he went to the Ram Janmabhoomi and performed “sashtangpranam” to Ramlala and before taking part in further ceremonies, he also planted a Parijat sapling, which is considered a divine plant.
“The way Dalits, OBCs, tribals, every section of the society supported Gandhiji during the freedom struggle, this pious work of building Ram temple has started with the cooperation of people from all over the country… There is no aspect of life where our Ram does not inspire us. There is no such feeling of India in which Lord Ram is not seen. Ram is in the faith of India, Ram is in the ideals of India. Ram is in the divinity and philosophy of India,” PM Modi added.
The soil for the “bhoomi pujan” was brought in from more than 1,500 places and holy water was collected from 2,000 places. Bricks engraved with “Jai Shri Ram” were also used in the puja which began with the head priest chanting Sanskrit “shlokas”. For the “bhoomi pujan”, a 40-kg brick made of pure silver was also used.
Ayodhya turned into a fortress on Wednesday as roads were lined with festoons and flags of every shade of saffron which also fluttered from rooftops. Road-facing houses were coated with bright yellow as hoardings welcomed the Prime Minister.
Mahraj Jairam, the deputy mahant of Shri Ram ashram, said: “It is a very emotional moment for us as our forefathers had fought for the mandir and now we will see it being built before our eyes. Lord Ram has come back to the city at his own home and it is a moment of great joy and pride for us.”