The rituals preceding the 'bhumi pujan' of the Ram temple began here on Monday with an elaborate 'Gauri Ganesh' puja. The three-day rituals that will culminate with the 'bhumi pujan' that will be performed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, began with the Ganesh puja that is considered mandatory for all major occasions in the Hindu religion.

The 'puja' began at 8 am 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 is chanting of mantras, 'aartis' and 'Ramayana path' amid pealing of bells. This is the beginning of the three-day ritual that will culminate with 'bhumi 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."

Meanwhile, Ayodhya will get a new temple-like railway station in about two years. The Railways has pushed the budget of the redevelopment of Ayodhya station from Rs 80 crore to over Rs 104 crore this year. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday tweeted, “For the crores of devotees visiting the Ram temple, Railways is redeveloping the Ayodhya station under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will visit Ayodhya today to take review the preparations for the foundation stone-laying ceremony of Ram Temple on Wednesday. He was scheduled to visit Ayodhya on Saturday but it was cancelled due to the demise of the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kamal Rani Varun who was undergoing treatment for coronavirus.

(With inputs from IANS)