Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on January 22 that the date when the murti of Ram Lalla was unveiled after a ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir marks the beginning of a new ‘kaal chakra’ and people would remember today’s date even after thousands of years.
Addressing the gathering where he led the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Garbh Griha of the Mandir, the Prime Minister said that the construction of Ram Mandir has filled people with a new energy.
“Bhagwan Ram has finally arrived (in his abode) following the wait of centuries. After the patience that we showed for centuries and the sacrifices we made, our Bhagwan Ram has finally arrived,” the PM said.
“January 22, 2024, is not just a date, but the beginning of a new era. The construction of Ram Mandir has filled people with a new energy,” he said. The country has broken free of the shakles of slavery. Even after thousands of years, people will remember this date and moment. It’s Ram’s supreme blessings that we are witnessing it,” the PM said. “Bhagwan Ram is in the soul of all citizens of India, and the entire country was celebrating Deepawali today”.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "The sunrise of 22nd January has brought a wonderful glow. January 22, 2024, is not a date written on the calendar. It is the origin of a new time cycle…"#RamMandirPranPrathistha pic.twitter.com/pWCuitja3o
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024
The PM also sought forgiveness from Bhagwan Ram for the delay in the construction of the Mandir. “Today, I apologise to Bhagwan Ram as there was something lacking in our love and penance due to which this work (construction of Ram Mandir) was not done for so many years. However, that gap has been bridged today and I am confident that Bhagwan Ram will forgive us,” PM Modi said.
#WATCH | Ayodhya: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "Today, I also apologise to Lord Shri Ram. There must be something lacking in our effort, sacrifice and penance that we could not do this work for so many centuries. Today the work has been completed. I believe that Lord Shri… pic.twitter.com/v6F8cLcO23
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024
PM Modi also thanked the Supreme Court of India, which paved the way for the construction of the Mandir by delivering the verdict on November 9, 2019.
#WATCH | Ayodhya: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "This is a temple of national consciousness in the form of Ram. Ram is the faith of India, Ram is the foundation of India. Ram is the idea of India, Ram is the law of India…Ram is the prestige of India, Ram is the glory of… pic.twitter.com/kOUeC0h71F
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024
“Ram’s existence was questioned… I would like to express my thanks to the Supreme Court for doing justice and the Mandir was built in accordance with the law,” he added.
#WATCH | Ayodhya: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "There was also a time when some people used to say 'Ram Mandir bana toh aag lag jaegi'…Such people could not understand the purity of India's social spirit. The construction of this temple of Ram Lalla is also a symbol of… pic.twitter.com/NgtASg6kbp
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024
The Ram Lalla murti was unveiled at the Pran Pratishtha ceremony after a hour-long rituals in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who led the ceremony.
The Prime Minister walked inside the Mandir premises with a silver ‘chattar’ (umbrella) placed on a red folded dupatta. Dressed in a cream-coloured kurta teamed up with a cream dhoti and patka, he took ‘Sankalp’ for the “pran pratishtha ceremony” and later moved to the sanctum sanctorum for the rituals.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were also present inside the sanctorum during the rituals. Devotees and guests chanted ‘Jai Sri Ram’ as the ceremony was held. The PM also said that Bhagwan Ram is connected to every particle of the soul of India. “Ram resides in the hearts of Indians,” he said.
(with inputs from ANI)
