In Pics| Silver coins, 1.25L laddoos, NSG commandos: Ayodhya readies for Ram Temple ceremony

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Byhindustantimes.com | Edited by Anubha Rohatgi

Aug 04, 2020 01:21 PM IST

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With just a day left for the foundation laying-ceremony of the Ram Temple, preparations are in full swing in the temple town of Ayodhya.

Preparations being made at the Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya ahead of the foundation laying-ceremony, August 4, 2020.(Deepak Gupta ./ HT Photo)

The main guest list for the August 5 event includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and governor Anandiben Patel. There will be a total of 175 people in attendance, comprising religious leaders and eminent local citizens.

A worker painting a picture of Lord Ram on a wall in Ayodhya in preparation of the foundation laying-ceremony of Ram Temple. (HT Photo )

The priests and religious leaders supervising the entire event said that the muhurat (auspicious moment) will last only for 32 seconds on Wednesday - from 12:44:08 on to 12:44:40 pm.

A view of the Hanuman Garhi temple, Ayodhya (Deepak Gupta / HT Photo)

The PM will reach Ayodhya on Wednesday itself and spend three hours in the city. He will also visit the Hanuman Garhi temple during his visit. He will first visit the deity at the temple site and then release a special postage stamp for the occasion. This will be followed by tree plantation and a puja for the event. This puja is expected to last about 20 minutes after which the PM will deliver a speech. The entire event is expected to wrap up by 2pm.

The PM will also visit the Hanuman Garhi temple during his Ayodhya visit. (HT Photo )

The saints participating in the ceremony will be given silver coins that have been sent for the bhumi pujan by Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati of Kamikochi to the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust.

Silver coins will be given to the saints attending the Ram Temple event. (HT Photo )

Ahead of Wednesday’s ceremony, 21 priests began a three-day vedic rituals on Monday at the Ram Janmabhoomi site as well as at Hanuman Garhi temple.

Vedic rituals were performed at Hanuman Garhi temple to seek permission from Lord Hanuman for construction of Ram Mandir, Aug 4, 2020. (Photo Credit: Hanuman Garhi temple priest)

Over one lakh laddus are being prepared for the ceremony.

Laddoos being prepared in Ayodhya, Aug 4, 2020. (Deepak Gupta /HT Photo)

There is a heavy security arrangement at the temple site and entire Ayodhya. around 4.000 security personnel including NSG commandos are manning the site and 75 check posts are blocking approach roads. The district borders were sealed from Monday night.

There is a heavy presence of security personnel in Ayodhya ahead of the Ram Temple ceremony. (Deepak Gupta / HT Photo)

The town is expected to shut down at least two hours before the PM arrives. If someone leaves in the middle of the event, they will not be allowed back in.