Ayodhya: The rituals preceding the 'bhoomi pujan' of the Ram Mandir began in Ayodhya on Monday with an elaborate 'Gauri Ganesh' puja.
The three-day rituals that will culminate with the 'bhoomi pujan' that will be performed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. The rituals began with Gauri Ganesh puja that is considered mandatory for all major occasions in the Hindu religion.
The 'puja' began at 8.a.m with chanting of mantras by 11 priests while 'Ramayana path' were held in various other temples.
"Ayodhya has woken up to 'Treta Yug' today. The only sounds that one hears in this holy city today are chanting of mantras, 'aartis' and 'Ramayana path' amid pealing of bells. This is the beginning of the three-day ritual that will culminate with 'bhoomi pujan' and also mark the beginning of temple construction," said Mahant Satyendra, a local priest.
Maharaj Kanhaiya Das of Sant Samiti said, "There could not be a more auspicious occasion than this. With the blessings of Lord Ganesh, the temple will be completed without any hindrance now."
Brothers bring water from 151 rivers, 3 seas for 'bhoomi pujan'
Two brothers, both in their 70s, have collected water from 151 rivers across the country and three seas and have now brought it to Ayodhya ahead of the 'bhoomi pujan' of the Ram temple.
Radhey Shyam Pandey and Pandit Triphala, who belong to Jaunpur district, have been collecting water from the Indian rivers and seas and also soil from 16 places in Sri Lanka since 1968.
"It has always been our dream that whenever the Ram Temple gets constructed, we will gift the holy water from rivers across India and soil from Sri Lanka. We have collected water from 151 rivers, three seas and soil from 16 places in Sri Lanka," said Radhey Shyam Pandey.
Since 1968 to 2019, the brothers have been travelling on foot, cycle, motorcycle, train, and airplane to collect the elements.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on Wednesday.
The construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya will begin after the ceremony that is likely to be attended by saints and seers, top leaders from the government, RSS and Hindu organizations.
The Supreme Court had on November 9, 2019, directed the central government to hand over the site at Ayodhya for the construction of Ram
(IANS)
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