Exclusive: First picture of Ram Lalla Virajman at makeshift temple in Ayodhya

NEW DELHI: Today is a historic day for millions of Indians and devotees of Lord Ram as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for a grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Wednesday (August 5, 2020). Ahead of the ground-breaking ceremony in Ayodhya, which will be attended by a select list of 175 distinguished guests, Zee News – the country's largest media house – showcased the first picture of the Ram Lalla Virajman, who is currently at a makeshift temple in Ayodhya, for millions of its viewers across the globe.

Besides this, the Zee News team is also engaged and had been working round-the-clock to ensure extensive and exclusive coverage of the much-awaited Bhoomi Pujan ceremony in Ayodhya, which is slated to begin around 12.40 PM auspicious time calculated by a group of priests.

The grand celebrations for the Bhoomi Pujan started at 8 AM and PM Modi will perform the ground-breaking ceremony at the auspicious time of 12:40 PM. Huge CCTV screens have been set up across the holy city in order to allow the people to watch the ceremony live once it begins. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to perform a `pooja` at the Hanuman Garhi temple and Shree Ramlala Virajman before performing the `bhoomi pujan`. He will unveil a plaque to mark the laying of the foundation stone and also release a commemorative postage stamp on `Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir`.

Sanitisation work was carried out at the Hanuman Garhi temple on Wednesday morning ahead of the PM`s visit. The Saryu Ghat was also decorated. Every street in Ayodhya has been illuminated with earthen lamps ahead of the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Ram Temple on Wednesday.

People also lit diyas on the banks of Saryu river as part of the 'deepotsava' celebrations in the temple town which will see Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries arrive today for the `bhoomi pujan` ceremony of the Ram Temple.

The entire Ayodhya has been decked up and massive preparations have been made for this occasion with a festive air.

Meanwhile, Centre’s coronavirus COVID-19 protocols have been put in place and the social distancing norms are being strictly followed ahead of the much-awaited Ram Temple Bhomi Pujan in Ayodhya, which is slated to begin with great fervor around 12.40 PM.

In wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, sanitisation work was also done at the Hanuman Garhi temple in the morning ahead of the Prime Minister`s visit. Strict security and COVID-19 protocols will be followed at the temple when Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives there along with other dignitaries. 

Over 11,000 diyas are set to be lit across the city of Ayodhya, illuminating every street and all houses will be celebrating with a `deepotsava`, a festival of lights.

Apart from PM Modi, the ceremony will be attended by Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat, Uttarakhand Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj, Senior BJP leaders LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, Iqbal Ansari (former litigant in Ayodhya land dispute case) and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.