As vedic chants reverberated in a large profusely flower-bedecked
temporary hall, Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed Bhumi Puja on Wednesday
for a magnificent temple for deity Ram at his birth place in Ayodhya. The Prime
Minister sat on the floor in front of a rectangular pit containing some of the “bricks”
received for the ceremony and a few other religious articles. The priests and a few prominent persons sat
around the pit. The leisurely puja
culminated at 12-44 p.m., exactly at the auspicious moment set by the
astrologers for the purpose.
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| The profusely flower-bedecked hall for Bhumi Puja |
Earlier, after arriving from Delhi the Prime Minister
straight proceeded, accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath,
to the ancient Hanuman Garhi temple in the city and offered prayers as per the
traditional practice. He then went to
the provisional temple of Ram Lalla, the infant Ram, and prayed there after
prostrating. In that premises he also planted
a Parijat sapling (the night jasmine).
After the Bhoomi Puja, Modi addressed an invited
gathering. He made an assurance that a
grand temple will be built for Ram Lalla, who had been living in the temporary pavilion
for years. “Ram is a thread that strings
together various entities and ensures India’s unity in diversity. The temple will fulfill the longstanding
desire of the people,” he said.
The Prime Minister unveiled a plaque to commemorate
the ground-breaking ceremony and also released a special postal stamp to mark
the occasion.
Crores of people and devotees all over the world watched
the entire programme live on television sets or other electronic devices . The entire city of Ayodhya wore a festive
look.
A COMPILATION OF PHOTOS
(By Subbaram Danda)
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| Hanuman Garhi temple |
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| Modi praying at Hanuman Garhi temple |
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| The provisional shrine of Ram Lalla, infant Ram |
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| Modi offering prayers at Ram Lalla shrine |
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| The Prime Minister planting a Parijata sapling |
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| Modi performing Bhumi Puja sitting in front of a pit |
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| The Prime Minister addressing a select gathering of invitees |
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| The invitees |
August 06, 2020
