India TV's special coverage on Ayodhya Bhoomi Poojan | As it happened

The city of Ayodhya illuminated ahead of the foundation stone laying ceremony of Ram Temple on 5th August. 

175 eminent guests have been invited for the Bhumi Pujan of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir. PM Modi, Mohan Bhagwat, Nritya Gopaldas Maharaj, Governor Anandiben Patel, and CM Yogi Adityanath will be present on stage. 

PM will first do darshan-pujan at Hanumangarhi Mandir, after which he will do puja of Ram Lalla at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi. It will be then followed by the Bhumi Pujan and the stage event. 

Priests performed 'Aarti' at the ghat of Saryu river, Ayodhya. 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other officials visit Ram ki Paudi to inspect the arrangments, ahead of the foundation stone laying ceremony of Ram Temple on August 5.

The General Secretary of Sri Ramjanmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust Champat Rai briefed media over the Ram Mandir Bhoomi Pujan ceremony. Here are the highlights from his presser:

• 36 Spiritual leaders and 135 saints have been invited to the Bhoomi Pujan ceremony.
• We have also invited Iqbal Ansari (former litigant in Ayodhya land dispute case) and Padma Shri, Mohammed Sharif to the foundation stone laying ceremony.
• The green colour signifies the prosperity of the nation. 
• All the attendees are requested to reach at least two hours prior to the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The Bhoomi Pujan ceremony will conclude by 2 pm. 
• Many people have come here. VHP leader Dinesh Chand, mahants from 'akhadas' in Haridwar. All invitees will be here by tomorrow evening. RSS' Mohan Bhagwat, Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi and others will come.
• Mobile phones and other electronic items will not be allowed at the premises during the Bhoomi Pujan ceremony.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offered prayer at Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath takes stock of the temporary helipad at Ayodhya's Saket University. The foundation stone laying ceremony of Ram Temple is scheduled on August 5.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath said, "We've made all arrangements to ensure that there is no laxity on any count. The main focus is on COVID-19. The protocol has to be enforced very strictly. Only those who are invited should come here. All devotees want to come but PM will represent all of them."

"To witness this historic moment, it's essential that we light earthen lamps at our homes on 4th and 5th August, religious leaders decorate temples, organise 'deepotsav' and 'akhand Ramayan Path' at temples, and remember their ancestors who sacrificed themselves for Ram Temple," UP CM said.

Ahead of the grounbreaking on August 5, Buildings on all main roads are being painted yellow as the colour is considered auspicious. Major roads are also being illuminated, walls are being designed with graffiti, images depicting scenes from the Ramayan.

Ram Dhun, Vedic hymns, spiritual songs are being played in Ayodhya ahead of the grand groundbreaking of Ram Mandir. Also, over 500 sanitation workers are working round the clock to keep the temple town clean.

Iqbal Ansari, the plaintiff in the Babri mosque title suit, is exited and grateful for having received an invitation to the momentous 'bhumi pujan' ceremony of the grand Ram temple from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra trust.

"Yes, I have got the invitation for the 'bhumi pujan' and I will definitely attend the event. I am very happy to be a part of the event," Ansari said. Iqbal's father, Hashim Ansari, was the oldest plaintiff in the Babri title suit and after his demise in 2016, his son Iqbal became the plaintiff in the case.

5,100 earthern pots have been prepared by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's cultural unit Sanskar Bharti for the foundation laying ceremony of Ram Temple on August 5. The earthen pots with diyas on top will be placed along the way from Saket Mahavidyalay to Ram Janambhoomi site.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath has reached Ayodhya to take stock of situation ahead of the bhoomi pujan of the grand Ram Mandir whose foundation stone will be layed by PM Modi.

Hanuman Garhi temple being sanitised ahead of PM Modi's visit on August 5. Temple priest says, "PM Modi will first visit Hanuman Garhi temple and offer his prayers before going for bhoomi pujan at Ram Janambhoomi, so preparations are underway for his visit."

Lord Hanuman is said to be the protector of Ayodhya and Ram devotees. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when he comes to Ayodhya on Wednesday for 'bhumi pujan', will first offer prayers at the Hanuman Garhi temple.

According to Mahant Raju Das, chief priest of Hanuman Garhi temple, "The Prime Minister will offer prayers for about seven minutes at the Hanuman Garhi temple before he goes to the site for 'bhumi pujan'. A special puja has been arranged for him here. The 'bhumi pujan' rituals will actually begin at Hanuman Garhi from August 4. It is widely believed that before initiating any task, one must offer prayers to Lord Hanuman and seek his protection."

The 'bhumi pujan' on Wednesday will be a culmination of a dispute that lasted for nearly 166 years. 

First pic of 'boomi pujan' venue from Ayodhya

BJP leader Manoj Tiwari, singer Anoop Jalota dedicate spiritual songs to Ram Mandir ahead of the bhoomi pujan on August 5 as part of some rituals have already begun from today in Ayodhya.

Dreams of all the devotees of Lord Ram is going to get fulfilled, says Devi Chitralekha, Bhajan Singer on the bhoomi pujan of Ram Mandir scheduled to take place on August 5. 

The officer in-charge of Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Prakash Kumar Gupta has said that flagbearers of the Ram temple movement and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi have been invited for the Bhoomi Pujan.

The rituals preceding the 'bhumi pujan' of the Ram temple began in Ayodhya 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.a.m 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."

Today, several saints and spiritual gurus will be LIVE on India TV and will discuss the relevance of bhoomi pujan in Ayodhya

Preparations for the Ram temple 'bhoom pujan' are under full-swing in Ayodhya. Security has been tightened in and outside the city limits, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of the temple.

The Ram temple in Ayodhya will be the world's third-largest Hindu shrine, reports have suggested