New Delhi: Just after 11.30 am, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took part in the ‘bhoomi pujan‘ for the Ram Mandir here today. The PM offered prayers and with him at the Hanuman Garhi Temple was Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The PM, wearing a face mask, presented with a headgear, silver ‘mukut’ and stole by Sri Gaddinsheen Premdas Maharaj, head priest of 10th-century Hanuman Garhi Temple.
The Trust had invited 175 guests and social distancing was maintained for the huge occasion.
The problem was of managing social distancing in the COVID atmosphere. This was the added precaution, apart from the heightened terror threat.
The Prime Minister sat with the priests in a square, all maintaining good distance, as the puja happened.
The PM arrived at around 11:30 am, but the puja had started way earlier, at 8 am. Following the puja, the PM paid his respects to the idol of Lord Ram, before laying the symbolic five small silver bricks, as well as one weighing 40 kg in the foundation. He got ample help in the process.
The Prime Minister’s visit may be short, but within that, a large number of activities had been planned by the trust. Among all, he will also unveil a plaque to mark the laying of the foundation stone. There will also be the release of a commemorative postage stamp on ‘Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir‘.
There were many small items associated with the puja. Along with the mukut, the PM was also presented with a stole with name of Lord Ram printed.
There was more. The PM also panted a parijat sapling at the site, a tree that would keep all memories of the very special day intact for decades to come.
When the puja ends, the PM will meet the trust members, before leaving a little past 2pm.
– India Legal Bureau