Live Updates: 'A Grand Temple Now For Lord Ram Who Had Been Staying In A Tent', Says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will today attend the historic laying of the foundation stone of 'Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir' at Ayodhya.

The ceremony by Modi for the temple's construction, in the presence of leading lights of Hindutva movement including RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, will be conducted today at 12:40 pm.

August 5 also marks the first anniversary of the annulment of Article 370, another key ideological plank for the saffron party.

Catch all the live udates here:

2:01PM: Ram temple construction is instrument to unite country, says PM Modi. "Social harmony was core principle of Lord Ram's governance," he says. 

1:57PM: Ram temple construction in Ayodhya will lift entire region's economy: PM Modi.

1:52PM: India is creating a golden chapter in Ayodhya, wait of centuries ends today: PM Modi. 

1:50PM: The cycle of breaking and building of Ram Janmabhoomi ends today, says PM Modi. 

1:47PM: 'Jai Siyaram'. This call is resonating not only in the city of Lord Ram but throughout the world today. I express gratitude to all citizens of this nation, Indian diaspora across the world and all the devotees of Lord Ram on today's pious occasion, says PM Narendra Modi.

1:27PM: RSS and like-minded organisations worked nearly 30 years for fulfilment of temple construction resolve, says RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.

1:13PM: UP CM Adityanath hails Prime Minister Narendra Modi for fulfilment of dream to build Ram temple in Ayodhya, says people struggled for 500 years for Ram temple in Ayodhya.

12:53PM: Ayodhya Ram Temple 'Bhoomi Pujan' concludes. Stage event to follow shortly. PM Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, Governor Anandiben Patel & President of Ram Mandir Trust Nitya Gopal Das will be on stage for the event.

12:39PM: PM Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat take part in 'Bhoomi Pujan' at Ram Janambhoomi site in Ayodhya. 175 guests are present for the ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ Ram Temple. 

12:13PM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes part in Ram Temple 'Bhoomi Pujan' at Ayodhya. 

12:06PM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi plants a Parijat sapling, considered a divine plant, ahead of foundation stone-laying of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

11:55AM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been presented with a headgear, silver 'mukut' and stole by Sri Gaddinsheen Premdas Maharaj, head priest of 10th-century Hanuman Garhi Temple.

11:48AM: As per tradition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers Hanuman Garhi Temple before proceeding to Ram Janmabhoomi site. UP CM Yogi Adityanath also accompanying him. Before 'Bhoomi Pujan', PM will plant a Parijat (night-flowering jasmine) sapling.

11:16AM: As per tradition, PM Modi will first visit the 10th century Hanuman Garhi Temple on arrival in Ayodhya. Premises of the temple were sanitised earlier today.

He will later proceed to Ram Janmabhoomi site to offer prayers to Ram Lalla & lay the foundation stone for Ram Temple.

10:48AM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Lucknow, will proceed to Ayodhya in a chopper for the Ram Mandir event. 

10:39AM: PM will lay the foundation stone of Ram Temple today in Ayodhya. The 'mahayagya' which started 500 years ago, is culminating today. The will power & resolve shown by PM Narendra Modi has today made him the tallest leader of India in the last 500 years: MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan. 

10:28AM: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Governor Anandiben Patel and BJP National Vice President Uma Bharti arrive at Ram Janambhoomi site in Ayodhya.

10:11AM: Having left from Delhi at 9:30 am, PM Modi is scheduled to arrive in Lucknow at 10:30 am, from where he will board a helicopter at reach Ayodhya at 11:30 am. Here is PM Modi's full itinerary:

9:34AM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for Ayodhya to take part in Ram Temple event.

9:23AM: Inside the venue of the foundation laying ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya | PM Narendra Modi, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, Ram Mandir Trust Chief Nritya Gopaldas and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath will be on the stage for the event.

9:01AM: Meet The Man Who Designed Ram Mandir In Ayodhya | Driving down to Ayodhya to be a part of the historic ‘bhoomi poojan’ ceremony for Ram Temple on August 5, Ashish Sompura is elated. His father Chandrakant Sompura, now 78, had designed the Ram Mandir in 1989 at the request of the then Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) chief, late Ashok Singhal. Read the full story here. 

8:53AM: Emotional Day For Me, Says LK Advani | A day before PM Narendra Modi lays the foundation stone for a Ram temple in Ayodhya, veteran BJP leader LK Advani said it is a historic and an emotional day for him and for all Indians, as he recalled the "pivotal duty" he performed in carrying out the Ram Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya in 1990. Read the full story here. 

8:39AM: Before arriving at the site of the construction of Ram Temple, PM Modi will offer prayers at the Hanuman Garhi at around 11:40 am.

8:36AM: A group of women's rights activists have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to attend the bhoomi pujan ceremony, to initiate the Ram temple construction, to be held today in Ayodhya. “The matter of faith and freedom of religion is a personal choice and a fundamental freedom of every citizen."