A Look Back At PM Modi's Aarti At Ayodhya Ram Mandir During Its Inauguration On Jan 22 A Year Ago

On January 22, 2024, the idol of Ram Lalla was installed at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The first anniversary of this event was celebrated from January 11 to 13.

On January 22, 2024, the idol of Ram Lalla was placed on his rightful seat in the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony at Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. This marks the first anniversary of the grand event, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed important rituals of the ceremony.

Apart from PM Modi, many popular faces from different field attended the event, including cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, industrialist Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani and Ratan Tata, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Bollywood actors and actress like Amitabh Bachchan and Kangana Ranaut among others.

Ahead of the ceremony, the temple city Ayodhya was adorned with vibrant hues and religious fervour as the town eagerly anticipated the Pran Pratishtha consecration ceremony. After a prolonged wait of five centuries, the Ram Mandir was inaugurated on this day, last year.

The mesmerising event started with PM Modi arriving at the temple to participate in the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, witnessed by thousands. Later, he unveiled the idol of Ram Lalla and performed 'aarti' at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple.

PM Modi also bowed down in front of the Ram Lalla idol,  and later took blessings from the sadhus on the conclusion of the ceremony.

However, the first anniversary was celebrated from January 11 to 13. The date was shifted because the Ram Temple trust wanted to follow the traditional Hindu calendar rather than the Gregorian one.

According to the Hindu lunar calendar, the Pran Pratishtha ceremony took place on Paush Shukla Paksha Dwadashi. This year, the Paush Shukla Paksha Dwadashi was on January 11.

Notably, the first anniversary celebrations come amid a push in the deadline for the completion of the temple. Earlier, the Chairman of the Ram Mandir Construction Committee, Nripendra Mishra said the construction of the entire temple will be completed by March 2025. The first and second floors will be completed by July and December this year, respectively, Mishra said, according to an IANS report. 

However, the chairman said that the entire construction of the Ram Mandir will be completed by September 2025. Mishra said there is a shortage of 200 stone carvers, causing delays in the construction.