The excitement on the foundation laying ceremony of Ram Temple reverberated across the country as Ram bhakts gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking occasion.
Many people across the country waited for decades to see the construction of a grand Ram temple begin in Ayodhya and when it finally happened, they could not visit the historic city because of a deadly pandemic sweeping the world.
They stayed home, prayed and tried various ways to be part of the bhoomi pujan spiritually.
People across the country were seen chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' and waving saffron flags.
Fireworks were also burst and sweets were distributed to mark the day.
Here are a few glimpses of the celebrations.
Hindu devotees light earthen lamps at Sri Krishna Janamsthan temple to celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ayodhya's Ram Temple, in Mathura, on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo
People light earthen lamps at a temple in New Delhi. Photograph: Shahbaz Khan/PTI Photo
Hindu devotees light earthen lamps at Tapovan Ram Mandir in Ranchi. Photograph: PTI Photo
People celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony at Ram Temple Karamchand chowk in Jabalpur. Photograph: PTI Photo
Members of the Muslim community perform aarti of Lord Ram in Varanasi. Photograph: PTI Photo
Pakistani Hindu refugees light earthen lamps to celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ayodhya's Ram Temple, at Maharana Pratap Camp in New Delhi. Photograph: Shahbaz Khan/PTI Photo
akistani Hindu refugees light earthen lamps at Maharana Pratap Camp in New Delhi. Photograph: Shahbaz Khan/PTI Photo
BJP workers celebrate in Ranchi. Photograph: PTI Photo
BJP workers celebrate in Dehradun. Photograph: PTI Photo
Young women paint Jai Shri Ram on their hands and faces in Amritsar. Photograph: PTI Photo
A supporter of the BJP holds a model of proposed Ram Temple in Ayodhya as they celebrate in New Delhi. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters
BJP members carry a girl dressed like Goddess Sita as they celebrate the ground breaking ceremony in Kolkata. Photograph: Swapan Mahapatra/PTI Photo
BJP workers celebrate the Ram Temple Bhoomi Pujan, at Preet Vihar in New Delhi. Photograph: PTI Photo
Members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad celebrate the ground breaking ceremony of proposed Ram temple in Ayodhya in Vijayawada. Photograph: PTI Photo
A woman distributes sweets during a live screening of the stone laying ceremony of the Ram Temple by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ayodhya, in New Delhi. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters
An artist dressed as Lord Hanuman along with the members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad celebrates the Bhoomi Pujan day for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, at Hanuman Mandir in Connaught Place, New Delhi. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo
Sadhus celebrate the Bhoomi Pujan day for the construction of Ram Temple, at Hanuman Garhi in Ayodhya. Photograph: PTI Photo
A man takes a selfie during a live screening of the stone laying ceremony of the Ram Temple by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ayodhya, in New Delhi. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters
Members of the Bajrang Dal celebrate the ground breaking ceremony of proposed Ram temple in Ayodhya, in Bikaner. Photograph: PTI Photo
People shout slogans during a live screening of the stone laying ceremony of the Ram Temple by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ayodhya, in New Delhi. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters
Vishwa Hindu Parishad members celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony of proposed Ram temple in Ayodhya in Chennai. Photograph: PTI Photo
