Ram Mandir Bhumi Pujan LIVE Update: Ayodhya lit up in celebration, politicians express joy

Today is a historic day in our country, every Indian wanted construction of #RamMandir to begin. Rajiv Gandhi ji had opened the lock in 1985, he said in 1989 that there will be Ram Rajya & temple should be built. If someone tries to take credit, it is wrong: Kamal Nath, Congress

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari performed the Aarti of Shri Ram at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai to celebrate the occasion of the Bhoomi Puja ceremony performed at the Ram Janambhoomi site in Ayodhya earlier today: Governor's Office

I don't think Congress has any stand when it comes to secularism. There is nothing new in Rahul or Priyanka Gandhi's stand on Ayodhya. They are following soft Hindutva agenda that was being followed by Rajiv Gandhi and Narasimha Rao: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan on #RamTemple
 

Special Pujas done by Sri Lankan Tamils at various temples in Sri Lanka to coincide with PM Modi Ram Mandir BhumiPujan event at Ayodhya 

RamTemple has been the demand of people from past many years. Congress welcomed the decision of Supreme Court with an open heart. Lord Ram is loved by all and he is above any political consideration. Politics and faith must be kept apart: Congress leader Anand Sharma

After performing the 'Bhumi Pujan' for the long-cherished Ram Mandir, PM Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, addressed the gathering highlighting the 'Ram Mandir dream' fought for centuries. He said that similar to the Independence struggle the Ram Mandir struggle was the efforts of many generations. Calling the Mandir - a change of Ayodhya, he said that today's ceremony will be a  'symbol of resolution of crores of people'.

"In the way, there was a struggle for Independence, the struggle for Ram Mandir was fought for many centuries with many generations' efforts pooled together dedicatedly. Today this is the symbol of that sacrifice made back then. Because of the efforts, I bow down to them on behalf of 130 crore Indians. All individuals attached to this movement are watching this program and are giving blessings to everyone. This Mandir is the gift of Truth, non-violence, and sacrifice," he said.

Talking about the efforts to destroy Lord Ram's identity, he affirmed Lord Ram was within every person. He said, "Ram is embedded inside us,  mixed in our blood. Many buildings were destroyed, what was not done? Many efforts were made to erase his existence. But still, Ram is with us. This Ram Mandir will be the latest symbol of our culture and a symbol of our faith and national feeling. It will be a symbol of the resolution of crores of people". 

Highlighting Ayodhya's development due to Ram Mandir, he said that the city's identity will be changed. He added, "The temple will inspire for determination and resolution. Ayodhya's entire identity will change as new opportunities will come and people across the world will come here. Today's day is the testimony of the truth of millions of Ram Bhakts."

Construction of magnificent temple of Lord Ram demonstrates PM Narendra Modi's strong & decisive leadership. My heartiest congratulations to all Indians on this unforgettable day. Modi govt is committed to protecting & preserving Indian culture &its values:Home Minister Amit Shah

Delhi: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu watched the live telecast of 'Bhoomi Poojan' of #RamTemple today and offered prayers with his family at his residence.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu’s family donates Rs 5 lakh each, in aid of the ongoing fight against #COVID19 and construction of #RamTemple in #Ayodhya: Vice President's Secretariat

It’s a very important day for us. People were waiting from many years for a #RamTemple on Ram Janmabhoomi. Today that dream has come true. We are proud of PM Modi who has fulfilled this dream. This temple will strengthen peace & humanity in country: Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal

With foundation laying of #RamMandir, India has shown how the 500-year-old dispute has been resolved peacefully: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar
 

I thank PM Modi for being present today, at the most awaited moment of the past 500 years. We have to implement the work plan prepared by PM Modi. This temple will not only be the epitome of Lord Ram's greatness but of India's too: UP CM Yogi Adityanath

It is a historic day. The construction of Ram Temple has started in Ayodhya today after sacrifices, wait and patience of generations. Indians and many people from across the world were waiting for this day for centuries: Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

Addressing a press conference, AIMIM chief Asaddudin Owaisi said:

India is a secular country. Prime Minister has violated the oath of the office by laying the foundation stone of #RamMandir. This is the day of the defeat of democracy and secularism and success of Hindutva

The Prime Minister today said he was emotional. I want to say that I am also equally emotional because I believe in coexistence and equality of citizenship. Mr Prime Minister, I am emotional because a mosque stood there for 450 years

Congress is equally responsible for the demolition of Babri Mosque. These secular parties have been completely exposed

Addressing the 175-strong audience at the Ayodhya's Ram Janmabhoomi, PM Modi, on Wednesday, highlighted how Ram Mandir will inspire humanity. Stating that it was the duty of Indians to ensure Lord Ram's message and beliefs spread to the world. He added that while was blessed as the Lord's birthplace, a 'Ram circuit' in places where he trod. The Prime Minister performed the 'Bhumi Pujan' for the long-cherished Ram Mandir in Ram Janmabhoomi - commencing the temple's construction.

"I am confident that crores of people in other countries are feeling content because of Ram temple. I am confident that like Lord Ram, this Ayodhya temple will inspire humanity for centuries. It is our duty to ensure that Lord Ram's message, our beliefs is spread across the world continuously and our world gets acquainted with our knowledge and beliefs," he said. 

He added, "In the country, the places where Lord Ram trod are being developed as 'Ram Circuit'. Ayodhya's magnificence is extolled by Lord Ram itself saying 'My birthplace Ayodhya is of the-worldly beauty'. It is written in scriptures, there is no just rulre like Lord Ram in the entire world."

Equating the need to protect citizens from Coronavirus to Lord Ram's teachings, he said that as India gets more powerful, it must become more peaceful. He also highlighted that one must learn to keep everyone's sentiments in mind as 'Deviation from Ram has lead to destruction'. Urging everyone to progress with trust and welfare, he concluded his speech with 'Jai Siya Ram'. 

"Lord Ram said that one must protect the elders, diseased, weak, and children Corona has taught us this properly. Lord Ram was committed to making 'Motherland more superior than heaven'. This is Ram's principle - 'The more powerful one's nation is, the more peaceful we shall be'. This principle of Ram has guided India for years. Mahatma Gandhi saw the vision of Ram Rajya," he said. 

He added, "Lord Ram has taught to move with times and hence India is progressing. He taught us to obey our duty. We must build this temple with mutual love and brotherhood. We need to take care that whenever humanity has believed Ram, they were progressed. When we deviate, we move towards destruction. We have to keep everyone's sentiments in mind and move ahead with everyone's trust towards everyone's development. I believe we will move ahead and the nation will progress with this temple inspiring millions."

With the construction of this temple, not only history is being made, but is being repeated. The way boatmen to tribals helped Lord Ram, the way children helped Lord Krishna lift Govardhan mountain, similarly, with everyone's efforts temple construction will be completed: PM Modi in Ayodhya 

President Ram Nath Kovind congratulates all on the inauguration of the Ram Mandir construction. 

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat addresses the guest at Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya ahead of PM's speech.

PM Modi arrives at the stage in Ayodhya after Ram Mandir Bhumi Pujan. He will address the nation shortly.  

RamTemple Bhumi Pujan concludes. Stage event to follow shortly. PM Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, Governor Anandiben Patel & President of Ram Mandir Trust Nitya Gopal Das will be on stage for the event. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lay the foundation stone of Ram Mandir shortly. Watch here:  

PM Modi, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, Governor Anandiben Patel and RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat take part in Bhumi Pujan at Ram Janambhoomi site in Ayodhya. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs Bhumi Pujan at Ram Janambhoomi site in Ayodhya

WATCH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi plants a Parijat sapling, considered a divine plant, ahead of foundation stone-laying of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Earlier, Mahant Rajkumar Das while speaking to news agency ANI revealed that Lord Krishna had presented one of the flowers of the sacred tree to his wife Rukmani, following which his other wife Satyabhama sulked. "So, Lord Krishna went to heaven and fought with Lord Indra and brought the entire tree down to Dwarka," said Mahant Rajkumar Das. 

According to the blog post titled 'A Daughter, A Tree and A Teacher', PM Modi will be planting a sapling of Parijat employing a method commonly used for water conservation. An unglazed clay pot will be placed parallel to the roots of the plant which will be filled with water  For about a week, the plant would not need to be watered. Water used to wash utensils can also be reused here. The pot will act as a natural drip irrigation vehicle.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is at Ram Janmabhoomi complex. He will lay the foundation stone of Ram Temple at 12.30PM. This comes eights months after SC's verdict on the case.  

Pm Modi will lay the foundation stone of Ram Temple eight months after the Supreme Court pronounced the verdict in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute 

PM Modi at Hanumangarhi 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honoured with headgear, a silver crown and a stole with the name of Lord Rama printed upon his arrival at the Ram Janmabhoomi site for the foundation stone-laying ceremony. Sri Gaddinsheen Premdas ji Maharaj, head priest of Hanuman Garhi, has said that PM’s visit to Ayodhya is a proud moment for the city and he will be traditionally honoured at the temple site.

PM Modi arrives in Ayodhya for Ram Mandir Bhumi Pujan 

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat at the Ram Janambhoomi site for 'Bhoomi Poojan'. He met BJP veteran Uma Bharti and UP CM Yogi Adityanath. 

PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of the Ram Temple at 12.30 PM

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reaches Hanuman Garhi ahead of Ram Mandir Bhumi Pujan. Meanwhile, PM Modi reached Lucknow from where he will travel to Ayodhya in an IAF chopper.  

Yogi Adityanath took to Twitter and shared a shlok from Ramcharitmanas which roughly means that Lord Ram that we have been thinking about since so many days, the one who is the protector and whose teachings define our lives, he is himself arriving in Ayodhya today. 

PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya today at 12.30 PM

National Vice-President of BJP Uma Bharti who was earlier supposed to be present among the dignitaries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Ram Mandir Bhoomi Poojan ceremony in Ayodhya, has arrived at the Ram Janmabhoomi site. She met UP CM Yogi Adityanath.

Uma Bharti had earlier announced that she won't be present at the event venue and notified the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas that she will witness the Bhoomi Pujan from the ghats of Saryu river instead of being present with the dignitaries.

She is of the opinion that while travelling to Ayodhya she is bound to come in contact with many people and have high chances of contracting COVID-19, hence she wanted to physically distance herself from PM Modi and other dignitaries who would be attending the Bhoomi Poojan ceremony.

Yoga Guru Ramdev on Wednesday morning reached Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya ahead of Ram Mandir Bhumi Pujan. Speaking to media he said: 'Ram Rajya' will be established in India. 

PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of Ram Mandir at 12.30 PM

Hours ahead of Ram Mandir Bhumi Pujan, Union Minister S Jaishankar said that it is a momentous day for the country and a pledge has been redeemed today. He also shared a glimpse of how Ram Mandir will look after construction is complete.  

Original document of the Constitution of India has a beautiful sketch of Lord Ram, Mata Sita and Laxman : Law Minister

As the day has arrived for the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Bhumi Pujan, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has shared a photo of the 'original document' of the Constitution of India. Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, the law minister said that the original document of the Constitution has a sketch of Lord Ram, Sita and Laxman when they returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravan. The law minister said that the illustration is available in the Indian Constitution at the beginning of the chapter on Fundamental Rights.

Ahead of Ram Mandir Bhumi Pujan, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal who calls himself Hanuman Bhakt has extended his greetings to the entire country on the occasion. He said that he hopes that with the blessings of Lord Rama, our country will get rid of hunger, illiteracy and poverty.

Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj, Chief of Juna Akhada, explains the significance of the day, ahead of the Ram Mandir Bhumi Pujan at Ayodhya 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for Ayodhya. Eight months after the Supreme Court verdict paving the way for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya's Ramjanmabhoomi, PM Narendra Modi is set to lay the foundation stone for the temple on August 5. 

As the day of the much-awaited foundation stone laying ceremony of the grand Ram Temple arrives, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that “every hour of this day is auspicious”. In a tweet dedicated to the ground-breaking ceremony of the historic temple, Chouhan said that the “whole world has become beautiful” on this day. The MP CM is currently recovering from Covid.

“Chanting the name of Shri Ram ends the sorrow and wishes. Today's every hour is auspicious. The whole world has become beautiful. May Lord Ram and all of you do well,” MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan tweeted in Hindi.

Aarti at Maniram Chavni ahead of Ram Mandir Bhumi Pujan 

Celebrations around the world ahead of Ram Mandir Bhumi Pujan. Visuals from Vancouver, Canada. Hawan and pooja in Bhameshwari temple. Watch here: 

Ahead of the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray thanked the Narendra Modi government for its efforts during the judicial battle for the Ram temple. In a statement issued on the eve of the Bhumi Pujan, the MNS chief said that "the day will be etched in history as one of the most auspicious days of Independent India."

Amid rising cases of COVID-19, sanitisation being done at Hanuman Garhi  temple in Ayodhya. PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of the Ram Temple today at 12.30 PM 

On the day of the much-awaited foundation stone laying ceremony of the grand Ram Temple, Mahant Dharamdas, who was one of the litigants in the Ayodhya land dispute case said that this day was the moment of joy for all of them. Dharamdas looked forward to seeing how Prime Minister Narendra Modi would lay the foundation stone at the temple.
“This is a moment of joy for all of us. The temple will be built at the site and people of Ayodhya will see how PM will lay the stone,” he said.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's husband Robert Vadra took to Twitter on Wednesday ahead of Ram Mandir Bhumi Pujan and reiterated what Congress General Secretary had said a day earlier. 

Ayodhya event significant for 'national unity': Priyanka Vadra

A day ahead of the Ram Mandir Bhoomi Pujan, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Vadra has released a statement stating the importance of Lord Ram, and calling the Ayodhya event significant for 'national unity.' In what seems to be a U-turn by Congress party, Priyanka Vadra said that the Ram Temple Bhoomi Pujan that is to be held on August 5 will be a basis of 'fraternity and cultural congregation'.  

Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev spoke to Republic Media Network from Sarayu Ghat ahead of Ram Mandir Bhumi Pujan and said: 

I would like to thank all the religious gurus: Baba Ramdev

"If Narendra Modi would not have shown this political will, we would not have been able to see this day. Also, it is commendable how Home Minister Amit Shah maintained law and order throughout the country after the Supreme Court's decision. I would like to thank all the religious gurus as well for their work," Baba Ramdev said. 

Baba Ramdev also praised people associated with the Ram Janmabhoomi moment and paid his tributes to the ones who lost their lives in the struggle. "If lockdown would not have been imposed, crores of people would have gathered here in Ayodhya to celebrate this event. These are the 'acche din'," the Yoga Guru said. He also slammed people playing politics over the issue.

Ahead of Ram Mandir Bhumi Pujan, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took to Twitter and shared a shlok from Ramcharitmanas which roughly means that Lord Ram that we have been thinking about since so many days, the one who is the protector and whose teachings define our lives, he is himself arriving in Ayodhya today. 

Eight months after the Supreme Court verdict paving the way for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya's Ramjanmabhoomi, PM Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the temple on August 5.

Republic TV leads the coverage

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri took to Twitter on Wednesday and shared a Bramha Stuti from Ramcharitmanas ahead of the historic Ram Mandir Bhumi Poojan. PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of the Ayodhya Ram Temple at 12.30 PM.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath, UP Governor Anandiben Patel, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will also attend the event in Ayodhya. 

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan urges people to light 11 lamps at home at the occasion of Ram Mandir Bhumi Pujan. Taking to Twitter he said the dream of the grand temple of Shri Ram is finally coming true. He urged people to celebrate the event as Deepotsav.

 PM Narendra Modi is set to lay the foundation stone for the temple at 12.30 pm

Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank took to Twitter on Wednesday and said that it is a very proud and historic day for all of us. This comes eight months after the Supreme Court verdict paving the way for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya's Ramjanmabhoomi.

PM Narendra Modi is set to lay the foundation stone for the temple on August 5.

Ahead of the foundation stone laying ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that Lord Shri Ram is a symbol of Indian history, culture, and our faith. Taking to Twitter, he said that the day marks as a fulfillment of dream for the citizens of the country. 

Former CM of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav tweets about Ram Mandir Bhumi Poojan 

Former Member of the Lok Sabha Shatrughan Sinha shared a video on Twitter in which a man is seen singing a contemporary version of Lord Ram's hymn. Shatrughan Sinha said that the bhajan is most apt for this grand occasion. 

Eight months after the Supreme Court verdict paving the way for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya's Ramjanmabhoomi, PM Narendra Modi is set to lay the foundation stone for the temple on August 5.

As Ayodhya gears up for the Bhumi Poojan, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar shared a video of celebration at Saryu Ghat. He said that it is a historic moment. 

 PM Modi to lay Ram Mandir's foundation stone at 12:30 pm  

BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi took to Twitter on Wednesday morning and said that the bhumi pujan by Prime Minister Modi on August 5 is the end of civilisational exile & beginning of a New India with its ethos entrenched in ancient value system based. 

PM Modi to lay Ram Mandir's foundation stone at Ayodhya's Ram Mandir 12:30 pm. This comes eight months after the Supreme Court's verdict in Ayodhya's Ramjanmabhoomi land dispute. 

Joining Republic TV Live on Wednesday morning, Nikunj Trivedi,  President of Coalition of Hindus of North America said that the Ram Mandir Bhoomi Poojan is a dream come true. "I want to congratulate all 5the Hindus around the world for this joyous occasion. After 500 years of struggle, we have reached here. In America and in New Jersey, people are celebrating at home. People are very excited. It is a dream come true."

PM Modi to lay Ram Mandir's foundation stone at 12:30 pm

Eight months after the Supreme Court verdict paving the way for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya's Ramjanmabhoomi, PM Narendra Modi is set to lay the foundation stone for the temple on August 5. On the occasion, Hindus in Canada's Mississauga light lamps in the temple. 

As Ayodhya gears up for Ram Mandir stone-laying ceremony, Union Minister Giriraj Singh took to Twitter and said that Ram Mandir Bhoomi Poojan is the end of India's cultural and religious slavery

PM Modi to lay Ram Mandir's foundation stone at 12:30 pm

Eight months after the Supreme Court verdict paving the way for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya's Ramjanmabhoomi, PM Narendra Modi is set to lay the foundation stone for the temple on August 5. The event organised by the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has 175 eminent guests in attendance including UP CM Yogi Adityanath, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and 135 saints. The event which is scheduled at 12:30 PM will also be live-telecasted on DD National.

Here are the salient features of the event:

• Entry to the site will be allowed till 10:30 AM - two hours prior to the event.  All invitation cards will have security codes which would work only once, to enter into the premises of the function.
• No electronics or camera will be allowed
• Only 5 dignitaries will be present on stage - PM Narendra Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Mandir Trust chairman Nritya Gopaldas Maharaj, Governor Anandiben Patel and CM Yogi Adityanath.
• Arrival of people who are aged above 90 years is not appropriate under present circumstances
• PM Modi will first do Darshan-Pujan at Shri Hanumangarhi Mandir, after which he will do puja of Ramlalla at Ram Janmabhoomi. It will be then followed by the Bhumi Pujan and the stage event
• Sacred soil from more than 2000 holy places and water from more than 100 rivers has been brought to Ayodhya for Bhumi Pujan. 
• Ram devotees have been called to organise Bhajan, Kirtan and Prasad distribution in all villages and cities while taking all necessary precautions to prevent spread of Corona 

Attendees at the event

While PM Modi's presence has been confirmed, Union Minister Amit Shah is currently hospitalised as he has been tested positive for COVID-19. Meanwhile, BJP veterans Uma Bharti,  Kalyan Singh, L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi have stated that they will not be attending the event due to COVID.  BJP veterans like L K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi other senior saints too will be attending via video conference. Shiv Sena too has hinted that Uddhav Thackeray will not be attending the event, insisting they don't need an invitation.

The foundation stone of the Ram Temple slated to be built in Ayodhya will be laid on August 5. The trust has estimated that construction of the temple will be completed in 3-3.5 years i.e by 2023- the year of the Uttar Pradesh State polls. Larsen & Toubro (L&T) which will construct the two-floor temple using Sompura Marbles - spanning  161ft in length, 140ft in width, and 128 ft in height, comprising of 5 domes. The trust is planning to contact 10 Crore families across 4 Lakh localities of the country for fund collection.

Ram Janmabhoomi movement

After then-PM Rajiv Gandhi opened the locks to the disputed Ramjanmabhoomi area in 1986, BJP Veteran LK Advani along with Ramchandra Das and Ashok Singhal spearheaded the Ram Janmabhoomi movement in 1990. Advani along with VHP began his Rath Yatra on 25 September 1990 at Somnath demanding the government to hand over the disputed territory to the Hindus to build a temple. Spanning over 10,000 km from Somnath to Ayodhya, Advani galvanised lakhs of people to take to the streets in protest. However, Advani's journey was cut short at the UP-Bihar border with then-CM Lalu Prasad Yadav arresting him.

However, BJP, VHP, Shiv Sena and other factions' 1,50,000 kar sevaks pushed towards to Ayodhya organising a rally at the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi area where the 16th century Babri Masjid stood on December 6, 1992. The rally - allegedly organised by the BJP & VHP - turned violent when kar sevaks attacked security personnel and demolished the mosque, causing wide-spread communal riots. In May 2017, the special CBI court charged BJP leaders L.K Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Union Minister Uma Bharti and others with criminal conspiracy in the Babri Masjid demolition case, as per reports, which was upheld by the Supreme Court. The case's hearing is ongoing in a CBI court currently.

Pronouncing the landmark judgment in the Ayodhya dispute case, the Supreme Court on 9 November 2019, delivered a unanimous judgment in the title suit of the disputed area awarding it to the Hindu parties for the construction of a temple. It also directed the Centre to come up with a scheme within three months to set up a trust which will hand over the outer courtyard and inner courtyard of the site for construction of a temple. Apart from this, the SC stated that an alternate land of 5 acres is to be allotted to Muslims for the liberty of constructing a mosque either by the central govt or the State govt in a suitable and prominent place in Ayodhya.

Ayodhya case in SC

The five-judge bench was constituted on January 25, 2019, to hear the long-contested Ayodhya dispute. As the case progressed after the Centre handed over disputed Ayodhya site to original owners, the bench created a 3-member mediation panel. On August 2, a day after the mediation panel submitted the report of mediation to the SC in a sealed cover, the SC stated that the mediation had failed and began day-to-day hearings - which ran for 40 days, along with a parallel mediation process continuing. The SC announced that it would wrap up the hearing on October 17 and announce its judgment by November 17. Finally, on October 16, the Supreme Court concluded its hearing, reserved its order and the mediation panel submitting its settlement report before the Supreme Court after the Sunni Waqf board surrendered its claim over the disputed land in Ayodhya.

What is the Ayodhya Land dispute?

While the dispute of the existence of a temple prior to the mosque has been contested for 461 years, the point of contention started when in December 1949, a crowd entered the mosque and installed a Hindu idol beneath the Central dome of the mosque, believed to be the birthplace of Ram. After the incident, the area was sealed off till 1986 - when it was unsealed on the orders of a civil court, allowing Hindus to worship under the Central dome of the mosque where the makeshift temple had been installed. The dispute flared in 1992, when the disputed structure was demolished, after which five cases were filed in the matter, with the Allahabad High Court pronouncing its verdict in 2010 - splitting the disputed land equally.

The three-judge bench had unanimously decided that the disputed land should be split equally, with a third of the property going to each party. Hindu parties were awarded the portion before the central dome of the "three-domed structure" (mosque), where a makeshift idol had been kept, in view of the Hindus' belief in the area as the birthplace of Lord Ram. On the other hand, the Nirmohi Akhara was allotted a part of the property in the outer courtyard on which stood the Ram Chabutra and Sita Rasoi structures. Meanwhile, the Muslim Parties were to be given the remaining portions of the property (both inner and outer courtyard), as per the verdict.

Landing at Lucknow airport at 10:35 am
Leaving the airport for Ayodhya in helicopter at 10:40 am
Landing in Saket Colony in Ayodhya at 11:30 am
Darshan at Hanuman Garhi at 11:40 am
Reaching Ramjanmabhoomi at 12 noon
10 minutes for darshan of Ram Lalla
Tree plantation program in the premises of the promised temple at 12:15 pm
Bhoomi Poojan begins at 12:30 pm
Foundation stone laying ceremony at 12:40 pm
Meeting Swami Nrityagopal Das and other members of the Ram Janmabhoomi trust at 1:10 pm
PM Modi will leave for Saket helipad at 2:05 pm
Departure for Lucknow at 2:20 pm
 

Deepotsav celebrated

Prohibitory orders have been imposed at several places in Karnataka aimed at maintaining law and order in the state, in view of the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on Wednesday. Places, where prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC (banning assembly of four or more people) have been imposed, include Kalaburagi, Kodagu, Dharwad and Mangaluru.