(Image source from: nyoooz.com)

Hanumangarhi will be the first stop for PM Modi before heading towards Bhumi Pujan ceremony at the main temple site on August5.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will first offer his prayers at Hanumangarhi before going to mega foundation laying ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 5.

PM Modi will be there in Hanumangarhi temple for 5 minutes where vedic priests will recite the mantras for the well being of the Prime Minister and to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the nation. The ceremony is expected to last for 7 minutes.

Speaking to ANI, the head priest of Hanumangarhi had said that they have been seven minutes for the whole ceremony after the Prime Minister arrives and three minutes for vedic chants. Earlier in the day, it has also been discussed on which route PM Modi will take to arrive at Hanumangarhi temple interior. The front side of the temple has 85 steps and back side of the temple has 36 steps.

Due to social distancing norms at the temple in the wake of COVID-19, only 4 priests will be allowed to recite the mantras.

The head priest had also said that they had received instructions from the PMO and nobody would touch the prime Minister nor offer him Prasad in his hand according to the instructions.

Vedic priests will escort the Prime Minister by chanting the vedic mantras into the temple where special prayers will be conducted to lessen the COVID-19 spread in the country.

The construction of Ram Temple will begin after Prime Minister’s ground breaking ceremony on August 5 and various political and religious dignitaries would be present for the ceremony.

Why PM Modi will visit Hanumangarhi first?

A priest at the 10th century shrine has said that there is a special reason for PM Modi to visit Hanumangarhi temple first.

He said that without Hanuman, no work of Lord Ram could begin. This is the reason why both Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and PM Modi will visit the Hanumangarhi first.

The first blessing sought from Lord Hanuman would enable smoother construction of the Ram Temple, according to the priest.

As Home Minister Amit Shah had tested coronavirus positive on Sunday, he would not be present at the ground breaking ceremony on August 5.

Along with him, ministers above the age of 60 would also not be present in the wake of fast spreading of COVID-19.

The work of revamping the Ayodhya railway station with modern facilities has also begun. The work would be completed by 2022.

By Gayatri Yellayi