PM Modi Ayodhya Visit Highlights: Whole world is eagerly waiting for pran-pratishtha on January 22, says PM Modi in Ayodhya

Addressing a mega rally in Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi requested Indians to celebrate January 22 as Diwali, and light the 'Shri Rama Jyoti' in their respective homes. He also requested everyone to visit the temple town after January 22. 

Passengers on-board the inaugural flight to the Maharshi Valmiki Airport in Ayodhya were reciting the 'Hanuman Chalisa'.

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Speaking at a public event at Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that if any country wants to reach new levels of development, it has to preserve its heritage. 

PM Narendra Modi inaugurates and lay the foundation stone of 46 projects worth Rs 15700 crore from Ayodhya, flags off six Vande Bharat and two Amrit Bharat trains, dedicate redeveloped Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway Station and Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Terminal.

PM Modi arrived at a public programme in Ayodhya, where he is scheduled to make an address.

With less than a month to go for the Ayodhya Ram Temple inauguration on January 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the temple town today, inaugurating the newly built Maharishi Valmiki International Airport. Earlier, the PM had inaugurated the revamped railway station following a mega roadshow through the city.

Speaking on the upcoming inauguration of the Ram temple, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray said that he was not invited for the event, but added that the real issue was that only one person should not take credit for the temple being built.

"Whether I have received the invitation or not is not the issue. But just one person should not take credit for it. Because lakhs of Kar Sevaks made sacrifices for Ram Mandir. Lalkrishna Advani had started the Rath Yatra and the credit goes to him as well. Forget about me, I have learnt that even Advani ji and Murali Manohar Joshi have also not received an invitation. The fight for Ram temple was a matter of faith and we are happy that the temple is being built," he said.

He added, "I have not received the invitation yet and I don't need any invitation to come there and take Darshan of Ram Lalla.  Because Ram Lalla belongs to all. Whenever I wish I will go to Ayodhya. The only thing we want is that the inaugaration of Ram Temple should not become a political event."

People raise slogans of 'Jai Ram, Shri Ram'as they board the first flight for the newly built Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhya Dham. PM Modi will inaugurate Maharishi Valmiki International Airport shortly.

PM Modi visited Lata Mangeshkar Chowk in Ayodhya, ahead of  inaugurating the newly builty airport.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off a new category of superfast passenger trains in the country — the Amrit Bharat Express. The train is an LHB push pull train with non air-conditioned coaches. This train has locos at both ends for better acceleration. It provides improved facilities for passengers, like re-designed seats, better luggage racks, mobile charging ports, LED lights, CCTV, and public information system, among others.

The two new Amrit Bharat trains flagged off will run from Darbhanga to Anand Vihar via Ayodhya, and Malda town to Bengaluru.

Read the full report here.

Several times over the past month, a snowy-haired octogenarian has made rounds of a tin-sheet structure in Ayodhya’s Ramsevak Puram, about 1.5 km from the Ram temple site. Drawn to the structure by the “khat-khat aur machine ki awaaz (the sound of chisels and machines)”, Shanti Singh’s attempts to sneak a peek at the Ram Lalla idol which she has heard is being sculpted inside have so far come to naught.

Read Lalmani Verma's full report here.

Modi inaugurated the redeveloped Ayodhya railway station and flagged off two new Amrit Bharat trains and six new Vande Bharat trains. 

Modi inaugurated the redeveloped Ayodhya railway station and then flag off two new Amrit Bharat trains and six new Vande Bharat trains. 

People shower flower petals on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he holds a roadshow in Ayodhya.

It is a proud moment for the family, says 75-year-old Mukteshwar Singh as his son in the next few hours will pilot the first commercial passenger plane to the new airport here after its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.

Forty-three-year-old Captain Ashutosh Shekhar is a pilot with Indigo, and after the airport is opened, his flight from New Delhi (2:40 pm) is schedule to land here at 4 pm.

Besides the airport, Prime Minister Modi will also inaugurate the city's railway station, days ahead of the consecration of the Ram temple. The event on January 22 is expected to be attended by thousands of people.

"Lord Ram has been kind to us," said Shekhar's mother Madhurani Singh (68).

"Since the day he entered the aviation sector, it was my dream to see him flying an aircraft to Ayodhya. It has come true after 12 years. What could be more joyous than seeing a dream being fulfilled," she said.

This is a "divine moment" also, said Mukteshwar Singh.

He added that his family's association with Ayodhya goes back four generations when his great grandfather visited the city to become a disciple of Shri Ram Vallabha Kunj Janki Ghat.

Shekhar is a disciple of Guru Shree Ram Shankar Das ji Vedanti of the city, said family members. PTI

The Ram Janmabhoomi issue, which brought about a transformative shift in Indian politics in the 1990s, will see a culmination of sorts on January 22, 2024. According to multiple reports, the idol of Lord Rama will be installed at the temple on that day. It will reportedly be a huge function, with thousands of religious leaders, from 136 Sanatana traditions, in attendance. This event is going to have a long-term impact on politics and society.

Read Badri Narayan's full piece here.

Airport Authority of India (AAI) chairman Sanjeev Kumar said, "The airport has been built in Ayodhya and AAI has completed it in a record time of 20 months. Air connectivity is important for Ayodhya... We are happy today and I hope people across the country will be happy."

ripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has requested Railways Minister Ashwani Vaishnaw to provide a special train from Agartala to Ayodhya for the pilgrims of the state to witness the inauguration of Ram temple. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the newly built Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22.

In a letter to the railways minister, Saha said a large number of devotees from the state is eager to participate and witness the significant event. He mentioned that approximately 2,000 devotees from the state plan to join the auspicious occasion.

Saha requested Vaishnaw to direct the railways to run a special train from Agartala to Ayodhya on January 20 and a return train on January 23. He said pilgrims would bear the cost of the fare themselves.

The inauguration of Ayodhya Ram Mandir holds immense cultural and religious significance for millions of Indians, Saha emphasized. He added that this momentous occasion symbolises unity, harmony, and the rich cultural heritage of the nation. PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Ayodhya; received by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and CM Yogi Adityanath.

On the invitation for the consecration ceremony of Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said, "Now, the only thing left is that the BJP will announce that Lord Ram will be their candidate for the elections. So much politics is being done in the name of Lord Ram."

Check out these visuals of the new Amrit Bharat train, which PM Narendra Modi will flag off in Ayodhya today.

When it’s inaugurated in January, the Ram Temple in Ayodhya will have a special section showcasing the “philosophy” and the “human side” of Lord Ram.

While Lord Ram’s idol will be installed inside the sanctum sanctorum, an exhibition at the temple complex will feature works of at least 75 noted artists of the country, themed on ‘Ram: the Man and the Idea’.

With the PM in the temple town today, here's what locals had to say about the changes the city is going through, gearing up for the Ram temple inauguration on January 22.

The terminal building has been designed to depict “the architecture of the upcoming Shri Ram Mandir of Ayodhya.'Once inside, passengers can see the interiors decorated with local art, paintings and murals depicting the life of Lord Ram.Even the main gateway has been built in a similar way, carrying a concrete core and cladding of sandstone, bearing stylised carvings.

> Modi will inaugurate the redeveloped Ayodhya railway station and then flag off two new Amrit Bharat trains and six new Vande Bharat trains at 11.15 am.

> At around 12.15 pm, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the newly built Ayodhya airport, named the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport. 

> At 1 pm, he is scheduled to address a public meeting and then inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of infrastructure projects. To enhance accessibility to the temple, Modi will inaugurate four newly redeveloped roads — Rampath, Bhaktipath, Dharampath, and Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Path.

"Our government is determined to develop world-class infrastructure, improve connectivity and preserve the rich heritage of Ayodhya, the city of Lord Shri Ram," PM Modi wrote in a tweet ahead of inauguration the airport in Ayodhya, and laying the foundation of stone of various developmental projects in UP and temple town.