Ayodhya: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Hanumagarhi here on Wednesday and offered a quick prayer at the 10th-century Hanuman temple in Ayodhya before heading to the foundation laying ceremony.
PM, in his 8-minute visit, bowed before Lord Hanuman and did a brief aarti on the 'Ram dhun' playing in the background.
Accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is the Mahant of Goraksh Peth of Gorakhpur, the PM went for a parikrama of the temple as per the ritual.
Sri Gaddinsheen Premdas Ji Maharaj, head priest of Hanumangarhi temple after the end of the puja gifted a headgear, a silver crown and a stole with the name of Lord Ram printed on it to the PM.The PM in his traditional pitambari dress and a face mask was silent throughout his visit to the temple.
PM's chopper landed at Saket college ground exactly at 1130 hours to lay the foundation of the grand Ram temple and attend the Bhoomipujan. At the helipad, PM was greeted by Mr Yogi Adityanath along with the trust members and officials.
Now PM will go to Shree Ram Janmabhoomi thereafter where he will take part in pooja of 'Bhagwan Shree Ramlala Virajman'.
PM will also plant a Parijat (Indian night jasmine) sapling and will subsequently perform 'bhoomi poojan'. He will unveil a plaque to mark the laying of foundation stone and also release a commemorative postage stamp on the 'Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir'.
Mr Modi became the first Prime Minister to visit Hanumangarhi and Ram janambhoomi complex. He last visited it in 1991 as the BJP general secretary.
It is a custom that before visiting Ram temple one should first pay a visit to Lord Hanuman temple. The temple houses Hanuman's mother, Anjani, with a young Hanuman sitting on her lap(UNI)