Clad in traditional kurta-pajama, PM Modi sits in pran pratishtha ceremony

PM Modi chooses his dress carefully for each occasion. On Monday, as the nation waited with bated breath for the pran pratishtha ceremony of Lord Ram Lalla in Ayodhya's Ram Mandir, PM Modi appeared in a traditional kurta-pajama, jacket and a stole -- all in golden/cream colour. PM Modi walked into the arena of the temple and climbed the stairs to reach the garbha griha where the pran-pratistha ceremony was held. For the last 11 days, PM Modi observed a fast limiting his diet to only fruits and coconut water and slept on the floor – to take part in the pran pratishtha rituals.

PM walked inside the temple premises with a silver 'chattar' (umbrella) placed on a red folded dupatta.

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Dressed in a golden kurta teamed up with a cream dhoti and patka, he took ‘sankalp’ for the “pran pratishtha ceremony” and later moved to the sanctum sanctorum for the rituals.

As the rituals proceeded, PM Modi held a lotus in his hand. The pran pratistha took place at 12.30pm -- during the sacred time of today's Abhijeet muhurat.

After the pran pratistha, PM Modi performed the aarti of the Ram Lalla idol, did a 'parikrama' of the deity and then did 'dandavat pranam'. Then PM Modi concluded his 11-day fast as he drank water from the hands of Govind Dev Giri Ji Maharaj at Ram Mandir in Ayodhya

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What PM Modi did to take part in pran pratistha ceremony?

PM Modi is the chief yajman of the consecration ceremony. PM Modi observed 11-day fast and then took a religious sojourn in South Indian states. PM Modi visited Panchavati in Maharashtra, Veerabhadra temple in Andhra Pradesh, Sree Ramaswami Temple in Kerala, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Sri Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple, Kothandaramaswamy Temple in Dhanushkodi -- in Tamil Nadu. PM Modi practised yogic yama-niyama for the last 11 days, chanted hyms.

Apart from PM Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath were present at the garbha griha as the pran pratistha ceremony was performed. "The divine moment of Pran Prathishta of Shri Ram Lala in Ayodhya Dham is an emotional moment for everyone. It is my good fortune to be part of this unique programme. Jai Siyaram," PM Modi said in a tweet.

Indian Air Force (IAF) choppers showered flower petals over Shri Ram Janmaboomi Temple premises as the idol of Ram Lalla was unveiled. The air in the premises was filled with chants of 'Jai Sri Ram' by invitees. Over 8,000 guests have been invited to the ceremony at the grand temple.