Weeklong rituals end with grand celebration

The resplendent Ram Temple was opened on Monday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi presiding over the consecration ceremony as millions across the country celebrated the homecoming of Lord Ram.

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Donning a cream kurta and dhoti, PM climbed up 32 steps to enter the temple premises around 12.06pm, and walked through five "mandaps" (halls),decorated with yellow and saffron marigold flowers, carrying a silver "chattar" (umbrella) placed on a red folded dupatta as chants of "Jai Shri Ram" reverberated through the crowd. He later took "sankalp" (pledge) for the "Pran Pratishtha" (consecration ceremony) and moved to the sanctum sanctorum of the grand temple around 12.10pm to offer the first prayers to the deity.

Between 12.29.08pm and 12.30.32pm (84 seconds), the consecration ceremony began with the PM performing the final leg of weeklong Vedic rituals by symbolically opening the eyes of the idol with a golden stick, chanting holy verses before placing flower petals at the feet of the deity and joining his palms in prayer.