Ram Mandir Ayodhya Inauguration Highlights: Our Ram has arrived after centuries-long wait, says PM Modi

Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration Highlights: The Ram Lalla idol was unveiled during the rituals, with Indian Air Force choppers showering flowers over the devotees in the backdrop

Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha Today in AyodhyaRam Mandir Pran Pratishtha Today in Ayodhya: Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers after the Ram Lalla idol was unveiled.

Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha Highlights: Transcending years of dispute, debates and and legal battle, the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya concluded today, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi also delivered an address to a gathering of over 7,000 individuals. Addressing the public following the consecration ceremony, he said, “Today, our Ram has arrived. After a long wait for ages, our Ram has arrived.”

The Ram Lalla idol was unveiled during the rituals, with Indian Air Force choppers showering flowers over the devotees in the backdrop. The shrine will open its gates for the public from Tuesday. With the Centre declaring a half-day off on January 22 for all its employees, and many states following suit, millions of people across the country and abroad are expected to witness the grand event that will be telecast live on TV and online platforms. Here’s the full schedule of the Ram Mandir event today.

Ahead of the event, Ayodhya turned into a fortress with elaborate security arrangements in place across the temple town. Seven companies of CAPF, two anti-drone systems, two NSG sniper teams and thousands of police personnel, were deployed in the city.

‘Many Ayodhyas, but name of Ram’s birthplace same in all versions of Ramayana’

The construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh has for decades been the demand of the Hindu Right in India. The demand rests on two important claims, both of which are a point of contention among historians and politicians. First, there is the belief that Ayodhya is the sacred site of birth of Lord Ram, and second is the claim that a temple dedicated to Ram was demolished on the orders of the 16th century Mughal emperor Babur to build a mosque at the same site.

Ayodhya’s sanctity as the birth place of Ram is derived from the faith that Hindus place on the Ramayana. It is worth noting that apart from the present site of the temple, the name Ayodhya exists in other parts of the world as well. There is the Ayutthaya kingdom in Thailand that is known to have been named on the Ayodhya of the Ramayana and there is also a place named Ajudhiapur in present-day Pakistan.

Journalist and researcher Valay Singh, who has authored the book, ‘Ayodhya: City of faith, city of discord’ (2018), spoke to indianexpress.com on several aspects of the name ‘Ayodhya’ and how it traveled not just across India but also beyond its borders.

Do we know if the Ayodhya mentioned in the Ramayana is the same as the site where the temple is being built?

There are so many Ramayanas; let’s take the Valmiki Ramayana. The descriptions given in it are not corroborated by all the excavations that have been done so far. There is no way to conclude that it is the same Ayodhya, it could also be that the site is now submerged under the Ghaghara/Sarayu river. The paucity of evidence of the kingly Ram has been replaced by faith in the godly Ram, and thus, the Ayodhya of today encapsulates both Ram Rajya and Ram worship.

Was Ayodhya the name of Ram’s birthplace in other versions of the Ramayana as well? How did the name gain popularity among writers from diverse backgrounds?

A story can be retold in countless ways. This is true of the Ramayana which has several versions and interpretations. Buddhists and Jains have rewritten the Ramayana to suit their own ideology. A comparative reading of these different Ramayanas along with the Valmiki and Tulsidas versions throws up some obvious patterns. The central themes for the Jains are deeksha and nirvan (renunciation and liberation), for Valmiki and Tulsidas they are dharma (duty) and Brahminism, while the Dashrath Jatakas of Buddhism are smaller in scale and more practical in outlook. Besides these variations, there are several differences in the religious structure of these tellings.

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Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration Highlights: Following 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony, PM Modi to deliver an address to a gathering of over 7,000 individuals

21:45 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Back from Ram temple event, PM Modi announces new scheme

Following the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, Prime Minister Modi announced the launch of the “Pradhanmantri Suryodaya Yojana,” an initiative aimed at installing rooftop solar systems on one crore houses across India.

Taking to X, PM Modi wrote, “All the devotees of the world always get energy from the light of Suryavanshi Lord Shri Ram. Today, on the auspicious occasion of consecration in Ayodhya, my resolution got further strengthened that the people of India should have their own solar roof top system on the roof of their houses.”

The Prime Minister also expressed his conviction that this move would not only alleviate the financial burden on the poor and middle class but also propel India towards self-reliance in the energy sector. 

20:57 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Back from Ram temple event, PM Modi marks early Diwali

Hours after presiding over Ram Mandir event in Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening illuminated diyas at his residence in Delhi marking an early Diwali celebration. This came shortly after he led the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.

In the visuals, PM Modi, draped in a yellow shawl, was seen lighting diyas and intricate bronze lamps while performing worship in front of cut-outs representing the Ram Lalla idol. The Prime Minister shared these images on X with the caption “Ram Jyoti,” symbolising the divine light of Lord Ram.

The act of lighting diyas was a symbolic recreation of how Lord Ram’s subjects welcomed his return after his 14-year exile.

20:38 (IST)22 Jan 2024

'Feel blessed to have attended historically and spiritually enriching pran pratishtha,' says Hema Malini

BJP MP Hema Malini called the ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya “historically and spiritually enriching”.

She added that it was “an event awaited by our nation for 500 years”.

20:15 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Fireworks adorn Ayodhya sky to celebrate 'Pran Pratishtha'

Fireworks adorned the sky over Ayodhya to celebrate 'Pran Pratishtha' of Ram Lalla.

19:29 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Ram temple at Ayodhya: A 200-year journey, with many milestones

The Ram Janmabhoomi movement for a grand temple at Ayodhya has a timeline running over more than two centuries, with several milestones amid the spilling of blood. Here is a brief history of the movement that ended up changing the course of Indian politics over the last three decades. 

Read on

18:26 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Visuals of Ram Mandir after consecration ceremony

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who led the ‘Pran Pratishtha’, while addressing the invitees, said that it was an emotional moment for him as after years of wait, Lord Ram had finally arrived in Ayodhya. “Ram Lalla will no longer reside in a tent as this great temple has been consecrated for him,” the Prime Minister said.

Pran Pratistha is the act which transforms an idol into a deity, giving it the capacity to accept prayers and grant boons. For this, the statue has to go through various stages. Here we describe some of the prominent steps. The number of steps involved will depend on the scale of the ceremony.

18:08 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Devotee suffers heart attack at 'Pran Pratishtha' event, IAF's mobile hospital saves him

In a timely medical intervention, an IAF rapid response team's mobile hospital successfully rescued a devotee experiencing a heart attack at the Ram temple's 'Pran Pratishtha' event in Ayodhya on Monday.

Following the collapse of Ramkrishna Srivastava (65) inside the temple complex, Wing Commander Manish Gupta and his BHISHM Cube team swiftly evacuated him within a minute of the incident.

They administered on-site treatment, utilising the critical golden hour—the crucial first hour after a traumatic injury or medical event, essential for successful emergency care, as stated in a release.

17:54 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Will definitely come to Ayodhya every year: Rajinikanth

Megastar Rajinikanth on Monday reached the Shri Ram Janmnabhoomi Temple in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya to attend the grand 'Pran Pratishtha' of Ram Lalla.

"It was a historic event and I am very fortunate.  Will definitely come to Ayodhya every year," he said.

17:43 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Mamata offers prayers at various religious places during all-faith rally

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday embarked on a symbolic journey of religious harmony, while leading an all-faith rally that included visits to diverse places of worship, such as a temple, mosque, church, and gurdwara, aligning with the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya earlier in the day.

Accompanied by religious leaders from various faiths and key party members, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo initiated the ‘Sanghati March’ from Hazra More in the metropolis.

17:27 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Ram Lalla darshan to begin tomorrow, says Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra chief priest

After the ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya today, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Chief Priest Acharya Satyendra Das said that Ram Lalla’s darshan will begin tomorrow, January 23.

16:59 (IST)22 Jan 2024

In Ayodhya Ram Temple speech, PM Modi says wait over, links ‘Dev to Desh’, and ‘Ram to Rashtra’

? The consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya is the harbinger of an era of a prosperous India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Ayodhya Monday, giving the people a new mantra linking the two – “Dev se desh; Ram se Rashtra (from God to country, and from Ram to nation)”.

? Addressing a gathering of about 8,000 guests invited for the consecration, the PM also said the moment was not just of “vijay (victory)” but also “vinay (humility)”, and invited those who had opposed the Ram temple to also come and experience the feeling.

? The PM said he was glad that Ram did not have to “live in a tent anymore”. “Hamare Prabhu Ram aa gaye hain (Our Lord Ram has come),” Modi said, adding that there must have been something wanting in “our devotion” that it took centuries for this to happen. “I say sorry to Lord Ram today. I am sure He will forgive us,” the PM said, adding that while in the Treta Yuga, Ayodhya missed Lord Ram for 14 years, people of this era have missed Him for five centuries.

? Modi noted that the first draft of the Indian Constitution had Ram in it, and expressed happiness that the temple had been achieved with the help of the law. He thanked the judiciary for keeping the “honour of justice”.

? Taking on naysayers, Modi said: “There was a time when people said that the country would be engulfed in aag (violence) if the Ram temple was built. They did not understand the nature of this country. I call all those people to come and experience this; to rethink their beliefs. Ram is oorja (energy) not aag (fire). Ram is not vivaad (dispute) but samadhan (solution). He belongs to everyone. He is timeless.”

? He added: “Today I get the feeling that the Kal Chakra (time) is changing; that we have laid the foundation for a Bharat of a thousand years later. We have to extend our social consciousness through Ram’s ideals.”

? Citing various characters from the Ramayana, Modi said there was much to learn from them, including “the value of service and loyalty from Lord Hanuman”. “Adivasi mother” Shabari used to say “Ram would come” while the Nishad Raj had helped Ram and Sita cross the Ganga in his boat, he said. Even the smallest of creatures such as squirrels had contributed in the construction of the Ram Setu, while the Jatayu had taken on Ravana to save Sita despite knowing he would be defeated, Modi said.

16:44 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Actor Jackie Shroff attends 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony in Ayodhya

After the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony in Ayodhya, actor Jackie Shroff said, "I have received the blessing...I feel great that I was called. Whenever I was given the role of an inspector, my name was 'Ram'..."

16:24 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Glimpses of Ram Mandir 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony in Ayodhya

Transcending years of dispute, debates and and legal battle, the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya concluded today, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

16:22 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Delhi HC suspends website offering Ram Mandir consecration ceremony prasad

The Delhi High Court has issued an order to halt the operations of a website accused of exploiting the public's religious beliefs. The site allegedly deceived individuals by falsely presenting itself as the official channel for distributing 'prasad' from the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Justice Sanjeev Narula, presiding over a lawsuit filed by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), noted that the defendant's platform operated under the name "Khadi Organic," a name similar to the plaintiff. 

The plaintiff is a statutory body established for the promotion and development of textiles, holding the proprietorship of "Khadi" trademarks. The court has directed the removal of all misleading social media posts associated with the defendant.

16:20 (IST)22 Jan 2024

PM Modi offers prayers at Kuber Tila Shiva temple

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers at the Kuber Tila Shiva Temple, which is located in the Ram Temple premises in Ayodhya.

He also unveiled a statue of ‘Jatayu’ at the Ram Temple.

Modi performed ‘jalabhishek’ and did a ‘parikrama’ of the Shiva temple.

The ancient Shiv temple located on the Kuber Tila in the Ram Janmabhoomi complex is also being renovated by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which is constructing the Ram temple.

16:08 (IST)22 Jan 2024

PM Modi unveils statue of Jatayu at Kuber Tila in Ayodhya

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a statue of Jatayu at Kuber Tila in Ayodhya.

15:55 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Saints enter Ram Mandir amid 'Jai Shree Ram' chants after 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony

Saints and other invitees entered Ram Mandir in Ayodhya amid 'Jai Shree Ram' chants after the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony.

15:44 (IST)22 Jan 2024

PM Modi greets Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan at 'pran pratishtha' ceremony

On the occasion of the consecration ceremony at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan, after addressing the gathering. 

15:41 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Watch | PM Modi showers flower petals on workers who were part of construction crew at Ram Temple

Prime Minister Narendra Modi showered flower petals on the workers who were a part of the construction crew at Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

14:23 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Ram Lalla will no longer reside in a tent, says PM Modi after Temple's 'Pran Pratishtha'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who led the ‘Pran Pratishtha’, while addressing the invitees said that it was an emotional moment for him as after years of wait, Lord Ram had finally arrived in Ayodhya. “Ram Lalla will no longer reside in a tent as this great temple has been consecrated for him,” the Prime Minister said.

14:23 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Our Ram has arrived after centuries-long wait, says PM Modi

Starting his address, the PM said: "Our Ram has arrived today after a wait of centuries."

14:15 (IST)22 Jan 2024

PM Modi starts his address

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who led the ‘Pran Pratishtha’, started his address by saying that after a decades-long wait, Ram has finally arrived in Ayodhya.

14:00 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Temple built right where it was resolved to be: UP CM Yogi Adityanath

Addressing the gathering following the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said that the Ram Temple has been where it had been resolved many years ago. “Mandir wahin bana hai jahan banane ka sankalpa liya tha,” the CM said.

14:00 (IST)22 Jan 2024

PM Modi breaks 11-day fast after ‘Pran Pratishtha’ rituals

Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke his 11-day fast after concluding the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ rituals.

13:40 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Consecration ceremony an extraordinary moment, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who led the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ rituals at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Monday, said that the consecration was an extraordinary moment that would make everyone full of emotions.

“It is a matter of great privilege to be part of this divine programme,” the prime minister said on X. Modi made these remarks as he took part in the consecration ceremony of the idol of Ram Lalla in the magnificent Ram Temple.

13:39 (IST)22 Jan 2024

UP CM Yogi Adityanath gifts Ram Temple replica to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath gifted a replica of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who was present for the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony along with PM Narendra Modi today.

13:00 (IST)22 Jan 2024

In Photos | Devotees take part in Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya

12:47 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Explained | Meet Arun Yogiraj, one of the three sculptors who made Ram Lalla’s idol for Ayodhya temple

Karnataka BJP leaders since January 1 have been congratulating Arun Yogiraj, one of the three sculptors who have made idols of Ram Lalla (Lord Ram in his childhood).

Though the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust is yet to announce which of the three idols will be placed in the sanctum, many BJP leaders, including former chief minister BS Yedyiurappa and Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi, claimed Yogiraj’s work has been selected.

Yogiraj, a resident of Mysuru, belongs to a family of famous sculptors. He says his family hs been doing this work for 250 years, or the past five generations.

Who is Arun Yogiraj? Read the full article here.

12:39 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Ram Lalla idol unveiled as PM Modi takes part in ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony

Transcending years of dispute, debates and and legal battle, the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya began today, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the Ram Janmabhoomi and began the rituals. The Ram Lalla idol was subsequently unveiled, with Indian Air Force choppers showering flowers over the ceremony in the background. The shrine will open its gates for the public from Tuesday.

12:26 (IST)22 Jan 2024

What is Pran Pratishtha ceremony, how is it performed?

While the basic meaning of pran pratishtha — giving life to the idol — is simple enough, the ceremony involves various rituals taken from the Vedas and Puranas, each with its own significance.

So what exactly is pran pratishtha, and how is it carried out? How can the worshipper impart prana, or life, to the worshipped? The answers lie in the strong role nature plays in many Hindu rituals, and the interdependence of the devotee and the divine in the Hindu worldview.

Read the full story here.

12:20 (IST)22 Jan 2024

PM Modi kicks off ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony in sanctum sanctorum of temple

rime Minister Narendra Modi reached the Ram Janmabhoomi temple and kicked off the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ rituals. 121 priests, led by Acharya Laxmikant Dixit, are performing the consecration ceremony today.

Mahant Nritya Gopal Das is sitting on chair, while PM Modi, RSS's Mohan Bhagwat, Governor Anandi Ben Patel and CM Yogi Adityanath are sitting inside the sanctorum in front of the idol.

12:10 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Ram Mandir Live: PM Modi enters Ram temple, to preside over ‘Pran Pratishtha’ rituals shortly

Prime Minister Narendra Modi entered the Ram Janmabhoomi temple to kick off the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ rituals. 121 priests, led by Acharya Laxmikant Dixit, will perform the consecration ceremony today.

The shrine will open its gates for the public from Tuesday.

11:52 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Ram Mandir Live: Mukesh Ambani, Nita Ambani reach temple, say 'today is Ram Diwali'

Industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani reached Ram Mandir ahead of the consecration ceremony. 

11:45 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Ram resides in the heart that respects customs, ethics and decorum: Akhilesh

Ahead of the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya on Monday, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav said the lord resides in the hearts of those who respect customs, ethics and decorum.

He also posted a short animated video showing Ram arriving in Ayodhya with Lakshman and Sita.

11:38 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Ram Mandir Live: Anuradha Paudwal, Shankar Mahadevan perform ahead of consecration ceremony

Anuradha Paudwal performed shlokas ahead of the ceremony, along wiith her daughter Kavita Paudwal. Shankar Mahadevan took to the stage following Paudwal's performance.

11:22 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Ram Mandir Live: Singer Sonu Nigam sings 'Ram Siya Ram' ahead of consecration ceremony

Singer Sonu Nigam sang 'Ram Siya Ram' at the Ram Janmaboomi Temple in Ayodhya ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony.

11:16 (IST)22 Jan 2024

PM Modi arrives in Ayodhya, set to kick off ‘Pran Pratishtha’ rituals

Amid high security, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Ayodhya to kick off the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ rituals. 121 priests, led by Acharya Laxmikant Dixit, will perform the consecration ceremony today. The shrine will open its gates for the public from Tuesday.

Ahead of his arrival, the Information Department shared a video claiming that it was taken by PM while he was in the helicopter enroute the temple.

10:54 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Monday morning in Ayodhya: All roads lead to Ram Mandir

From roads to sub-lanes, from shops to terraces, Ayodhya is set for the consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Temple today.

Shutters of all shops on Ram Path and Bhakti Path have been painted in the same dark brown and each has a painting of either Lord Ram, Hanuman, a swastika, a conch shell, a trident, or a saffron flag.

“The administration has got shutters and facades of all shops and homes painted in the same colour at the government’s expense. They are also providing yellow light bulbs to replace white LEDs in shops,” said Rajan Gupta, a sweet seller on Bhakti Path near Hanumangarhi.

Read the full story by Lalmani Verma here.

10:38 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Ram Mandir Live: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Alia Bhatt arrive in Ayodhya

Actors Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kausal, Katrina Kaif, as well as filmmaker Rohit Shetty, among others arrived in Ayodhya on Monday.

10:34 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Ram Mandir Live: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat arrives at Ram Mandir ahead of 'Pran Pratishtha' rituals

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat arrived at the Ram Mandir ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony.


10:04 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Ram Mandir Live: Yogi Adityanath arrives at Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath greeted people as he arrived at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. Last night, the CM was at temple premises taking stock of the preparations ahead of the rituals.

09:58 (IST)22 Jan 2024

'World was waiting for this day': UP Dy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya

Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya expressed his anticipation ahead of the consecration ceremony and said, "After 500 years of struggle, the Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla is going to be done at his birthplace today.The world was waiting for this day. The amount of happiness is difficult to be expressed in words."

09:48 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Ram Mandir Live: Cold day conditions predicted in Ayodhya on consecration day

Ayodhya and nearby areas experienced misty weather on Monday morning and cold day conditions are predicted to prevail during the day, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The Met Office said shallow fog limited visibility to 1,000 metres until 9 am. According to the weather department, Ayodhya is likely to experience 'cold day' conditions on Monday, with the maximum temperature expected to settle around 15 to 17 degrees Celsius.

The IMD launched a dedicated webpage on Thursday to provide weather-related information for Ayodhya and nearby areas. PTI

09:38 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Ram Mandir Live: Who all are attending the Ayodhya event today?

Dignitories, who have already arrived or are enroute to Ayodhya  include political leaders such as former President of India Ram Nath Kovind, Pratibha Patil, former Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, former Speaker Meira Kumar, Sumitra Mahajan, industrialists such as Mukesh and Nita Ambani, Lakshmi Niwas Mittal, Nusli Wadia, Gautam Adani and Ajay Piramal.

Anil Agarwal, Rekha Jhunjhunwala, Adi Godrej, LNT Chairman AM Naik, Sudha Murthy, Sunil Mittal, and sportpersons Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, K Sivan, Ravindra Jadeja, P.T. Usha, Sunil Gavaskar, Saina Nehwal, "Metroman" E. Sreedharan will also be in Ayodhya today.

Other invitees include actors like Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Rajinikanth, Hema Malini, Asha Bhosle, Usha Mangeshkar, Arun Govil, Prasoon Joshi, Shankar Mahadevan, Subhash Ghai and Anuradha Paudwal.

Former Chief of Army Staff Manoj Mukund Naravane, Ram temple architect Chandrakant Bhai Sompura are also important guests, and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad is being invited as “Ram Lalla's lawyer”.

09:08 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Explained | Ram temple at Ayodhya, a 200-year journey, with many milestones

The Ram Janmabhoomi movement for a grand temple at Ayodhya has a timeline running over more than two centuries, with several milestones amid the spilling of blood. Here is a brief history of the movement that ended up changing the course of Indian politics over the last three decades.

Read the full story here.

08:51 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Ram Mandir Live: 5 lakh laddus from MP's Mahakaleshwar temple reach Ayodhya

Five lakh laddus prepared at the Mahakaleshwar temple in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain city have reached Ayodhya ahead of the Ram temple consecration ceremony on Monday, an official said.

The laddus, weighing about 50 gm each, will be distributed to devotees as prasad on the occasion, he said.

Five trucks, shaped like chariots, decorated in saffron and adorned with pictures of Lord Ram, reached Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh with 250 quintals of laddus at around 10.30 pm on Saturday, Mahakaleshwar temple's assistant administrator Moolchand Junwal told PTI.

08:48 (IST)22 Jan 2024

121 priests to lead consecration rituals; PM Modi to accompany guests for 'darshan'

121 priests led by Acharya Laxmikant Dixit will lead the consecration ceremony today. Following the ceremony, guests representative from different fields including sports, entertainment industry, politics, education, armed forces as well as representatives from different countries, will be taken for 'Darshan' of Ram Lalla in the presence of Prime Minister.

“Darshan” by dignitaries will continue till late evening, Ram Janmabhoomi Trust offiials have said.

Meanwhile, 'Deepawali' will be celebrated on the ghats of Ayodhya in the evening by lighting a number of record number of diyas to mark 'the arrival of Ram' in his Temple.

08:28 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Indian Military aircrafts to shower flowers over Ayodhya during 'arti' today

Officials confirm that flowers will be showered over Ayodhya by Indian Military aircrafts during the 'arti' today.

08:26 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Watch | The many hues of Ayodhya

Ahead of the inauguration, locals, visitors, and priests share excitement with Rath yatras, deity attire, and 14 lakh diyas illuminating a Ram image. 

08:22 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Tamil Nadu ‘banned’ live telecast of Ayodhya event, alleges Sitharaman; state govt says 'false'

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Sunday alleged that the Tamil Nadu government has banned the live telecast of the Ram Mandir events in Ayodhya on January 22, citing a news report in a Tamil daily. The state government dismissed the news as “false”, claiming it had ulterior motives.

Sitharaman further alleged that the temples administered by the Tamil Nadu government have barred puja for Lord Ram on the day of the consecration of the temple. Read more

08:20 (IST)22 Jan 2024

In Photos | In Ayodhya, flowers and lights adorn the Ram Mandir

(Photos by Vishal Srivastava)

07:57 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Ram Mandir Inauguration Live Updates: What's today's schedule like?

While, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reach the temple town on Tuesday morning and kick off Pran Pratishtha rituals at 12.05 pm, here’s what his 5 hour-long schedule, from around 10:30 AM to 2 PM, looks like:

10:25 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive at the Ayodhya airport, and then board a helicopter to reach the event venue

10:55 am: Narendra Modi will reach Shri Ram Janmabhoomi

11:00 AM to 12:00 PM: Reserved. (The PM may take a tour of the temple premises during this time)

12:05 PM to 12:55 PM: Pran Pratishtha rituals will take place

12:55 PM: PM Modi will leavethe consecration ceremony venue

1:00 PM: PM Modi will arrive at the public function venue

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm: A public function will take place in Ayodhya

2:10 pm: PM Modi will go for a Darshan of Kuber Tila

07:48 (IST)22 Jan 2024

As Ram Mandir gets inaugurated today, what INDIA alliance leaders — from Rahul to Mamata — will be doing

Having turned down invitations to attend the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony in Ayodhya on Monday, several parties in the INDIA bloc of Opposition parties, acutely aware of the political minefield that they are navigating, are marking the day in some way.

The parties are caught between the inevitable rock and a hard place as the BJP will frame their absence in political terms. These Opposition parties cannot go to the event as all of them believe the Sangh Parivar has turned it into a political event with the Lok Sabha elections in view

So what will India bloc leaders be doing today? Continue reading

07:24 (IST)22 Jan 2024

PM to also meet 'shramjeevis' associated with the construction of Ram Temple

Amid high security, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reach Ayodhya to participate in the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ rituals today. 

A member of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust informed that the PM will also interact with 'shramjeevis' associated with the construction of the temple.

He will also be visiting the Kuber Tila, where an ancient Shiv temple has been restored and perform a ‘pooja’ there.

07:08 (IST)22 Jan 2024

UP CM Yogi Adityanath reaches Ayodhya on Sunday; takes stock of all the arrangements

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath arrived at Ayodhya a day before the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple and took stock of all the preparation and arrangements being done there, a UP government spokesperson informed PTI.

The CM also met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at the Sangh office.

06:57 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Watch | Visuals from Ram Janmabhoomi premises ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Temple

06:52 (IST)22 Jan 2024

Ayodhya set for Ram Mandir consecration

Good morning and welcome to our blog!

The ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony is set to commence at 12.20 pm and is likely to conclude by 1 pm. Following the ceremony, the prime minister will deliver an address to a gathering of over 7,000 individuals. 

Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates!

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