New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Ram Mandir's sanctum sanctorum today and performed the 'Shila Pujan'. He poured cement on the stones of the slab amid holy chants and rituals. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and several other guests were also present during the occasion.
"The construction work of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya was started by PM Modi almost 2 years ago. The work is successfully proceeding and we are fortunate that the ritual of keeping the stones in the Garbhagriha has been initiated today," said the CM after the ceremony, as reported by news agency ANI.
The CM reiterated that the temple will be a 'Rashtra mandir' and that its work will be completed on time.
“This temple will be symbol of people’s belief. It will be a ‘Rashtra mandir’ and its work will move forward with full speed. The 500-year old ‘tadpan’ (uneasiness) of devotees is going to end and we will have a temple here,” Adityanath was quoted as saying by PTI.
During the ceremony CM Adityanath facilitated the engineers of Ram Temple with 'Anga Vastras'. Seers and saints from across the country were invited to the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Ram Temple Garbhagriha.
Earlier today, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said the construction of the temple's second phase will start after the foundation laying of the sanctum sanctorum.
"The construction of Ram Janmabhoomi temple was started after the decision of the Supreme Court. After the completion of the first phase, the second phase of the temple construction will start with the laying of foundation stone by the chief minister," he said, as reported by PTI.
According to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the sanctum sanctorum is expected to be completed by end of 2023.