“January 22, 2024, is not just a date, but the beginning of a new era,”: PM Modi at the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony

The much anticipated Ram Mandir consecration ceremony was held on Monday, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat. “Today, our Ram has arrived. After a long wait for ages, our Ram has arrived,” said PM Narendra Modi. Following the grand consecration, the shrine will be open to the general public a day later.

"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," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The coveted event was attended by 7,000 VVIP’s across various walks of life. "I have firm belief and immense faith that today, the devotees of Prabhu Ram are completely absorbed in this historic moment...the devotees of Prabhu Ram, in every corner of the country and the world, are deeply feeling this...This moment is divine, this moment is the holiest of all,” added the Prime Minister.

Carved out of a single block of black stone, the 51 inch tall statue of Ram Lalla stands at the center of the “garbha griha”(sanctum sanctorum) of the under-construction Ram temple. The construction of the Ram Mandir began following the Supreme Court’s verdict, delivered on November 19, 2019. “I would like to express my thanks to the Supreme Court for doing justice and the temple was built in accordance with the law,” said PM Modi.

"Ram is not a fire, he is energy. Ram is not a dispute, he is a solution. Ram is not just ours, he is everyone's…today, we did not just see the pran pratishtha of Ram Lalla's idol, but also the pran pratishtha of the unbreakable unity of India," asserted the Prime Minister, addressing a gathering at the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony in Ayodhya.

The Ram Mandir consecration ceremony was celebrated with great fervor. Flowers were showed on the Ram Mandir from helicopters. Devotees from all across the country visited the temple city of Ayodhya. The shrine will be open to the general public from Tuesday.