Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers before the idol of Ram Lalla during the 'Pran Pratishtha' rituals at the Ram temple, in Ayodhya, Monday, January 22. PTI
LIVE | Ram Lalla consecrated; advent of new era, says PM Modi
The PM performed a series of rituals in the ‘grabhagriha’ – the sanctum sanctorum – with the ‘pran pratishtha’ taking place during the 84-second 'Abhijeet muhurta'.
The new Ram Lalla idol was consecrated at the Ayodhya temple on Monday (January 22), an event led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said it marked the advent of a new era.
Lakhs of people watched the ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony on television at their homes and in neighbourhood temples, becoming part of the historic event held just months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Army helicopters showered flower petals on the newly constructed Janmabhoomi temple as the ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony took place. And celebrations broke out in parts of this Uttar Pradesh temple town with people singing and dancing.
"Today, our Ram has arrived. After a long wait for ages, our Ram has arrived. Our Ram Lalla will no longer live in a tent. Our Ram Lalla will stay in a magnificent temple," Modi said in his address that followed the consecration, which also marked the inauguration of the temple.
He recalled there were times when some people said the country would be on fire if the Temple was built.
"I would urge those people to rethink. Ram is not fire but energy. Ram is not a dispute, but a solution. Ram is not just ours but belongs to everyone. Ram is not just the present, but eternity," he said.
The PM performed a series of rituals in the ‘grabhagriha’ – the sanctum sanctorum -- with the ‘pran pratishtha’ taking place during the 84-second 'Abhijeet muhurta'. At the end, the PM prostrated himself before the 51-inch idol that depicts the child Ram.
The ceremony took place in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.
Top Opposition leaders skipped the ceremony.
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Live Updates
- 22 Jan 2024 3:00 PM IST
'Religion is a private affair': Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan's statement on Ram temple inauguration
"Secularism is the soul of the democratic republic of India. It has been part of our identity as a nation right from the days of our national movement. Those belonging to different faiths and those who were not part of any religion had taken active part in our freedom struggle. This nation belongs to all people and all sections of Indian society, in equal measure.
Religion is a private affair and the Indian Constitution has minced no words in stating that all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and have the right to freely profess, practise and propagate religion. As those who have taken an oath to uphold the Constitution of India, we ought to ensure that every person within our territories enjoys this right in equal measure. At the same time, we cannot be promoting one religion above all others, or demean one religion beneath every other.As our first Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru has often opined, Indian secularism means the separation of religion and state. We even have a strong tradition of maintaining that separation. However, of late, the line that demarcates religion and state seems to be getting thinner and thinner. This is a major departure from the times when our constitutional office bearers have been cautioned from taking part in religious events, as it would cast aspersions on our credentials as a secular state.Now, we have come to a point in time when the inauguration of a religious place of worship in the country is being celebrated as a state event. Most of us have been invited to participate in the rituals, by the trust in charge of it. As those who have pledged to preserve and protect our Constitution, let us reaffirm our commitment to its secular character, by declining to participate in the event, upholding our Constitutional responsibilities.Let this serve as an opportunity to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities. May India prosper further by developing scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform," said Kerala CM Pinarayi VIjayan. - 22 Jan 2024 2:57 PM IST
No disappointment in India today: PM Modi
"Today, there is not even an iota of space for disappointment in the country," says PM Modi - 22 Jan 2024 2:56 PM IST
Our generation is blessed to get Ram temple: PM Modi
"Ram Rajya' was established after Lord Ram came in the 'Treta Yuga'. He continued to show us the path for thousands of years. Now, the land of Ayodhya is asking us a question, the wait of centuries has ended but what's next? I can feel today that the 'Kaal Chakra' is changing now, and our generation is blessed to get this opportunity," says PM Modi - 22 Jan 2024 2:54 PM IST
Ram is energy not fire, solution not dispute: PM Modi
Some would say Ram temple's construction will set off a firestorm. They should reconsider as Ram is energy, not fire, solution not dispute: PM Modi - 22 Jan 2024 2:39 PM IST
Ram temple construction reflection of Indian society's maturity: PM Modi
Ram temple's construction reflection of Indian society's maturity; it's an occasion of not merely triumph but humility too: PM Modi
- 22 Jan 2024 2:38 PM IST
PM Modi talks about his 11-day religious trip
"I tried to visit places during my 11-day religious exercise where Lord Ram had set foot..." - PM Modi.
"Over the last 11 days, I have got this opportunity to listen to Ramayana in different languages and in different states. Defining Lord Ram, saints have said that Lord Ram resides in everyone. People of every era have lived Lord Ram. People of every era have expressed Lord Ram in their languages," he adds.
- 22 Jan 2024 2:33 PM IST
PM Modi thanks Supreme Court
Lord Ram's existence was questioned. I will express thanks to the Supreme Court for doing justice and temple was built in accordance with law: PM Modi - 22 Jan 2024 2:29 PM IST
People will remember Jan 22 for thousands of years: PM Modi
Even after thousands of years people will remember this date, moment. It's Ram's supreme blessings that we are witnessing it: PM Modi - 22 Jan 2024 2:28 PM IST
I apologise to Lord Ram: PM Modi
"Today, I apologise to Lord Ram as there was something lacking in our love and penance due to which this work (construction of Ram Temple) was not done for so many years. However, that gap has been bridged today and I am confident that Lord Ram will forgive us," says PM Modi.
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