The consecration of Ram Lalla idol at the grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya marks the advent of a new era, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday, adding that the occasion is not of mere triumph but of humility.
Addressing the select dignitaries after the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony, Modi said the Ram temple is the reflection of the maturity of Indian society.
"This is a moment of celebration as well as the moment of a reflection of Indian society's maturity. It is an occasion of not merely triumph but humility too,” he said.
The prime minister claimed that the construction of the grand temple of Ram Lalla is also a symbol of peace, patience, mutual harmony and coordination of the Indian society.
“We are seeing that this construction is not giving birth to any fire, but to energy,” he said.
Claiming that the consecration ceremony has marked the advent of a new era, Modi called upon people to build the foundation of a strong, grand and divine India of the next 1,000 years.
"From this auspicious moment we have to lay the foundation of India for the next 1,000 years. We have to move beyond the construction of the temple and resolve to build a strong, grand and divine India," he said.
He thanked the Supreme Court for paving the way for the construction of the temple by delivering its verdict in 2019 on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit.
"Even after the Constitution came into existence, a legal battle was fought for decades (over) Lord Ram's existence. I would like to thank the judiciary that delivered justice and (allowed) Lord Ram's temple was built in a legal manner..." he said.
"Today, our Ram has arrived. After a long wait for ages, our Ram has arrived. Our Ram Lalla will no longer live in a tent. Our Ram Lalla will stay in a magnificent temple," Modi said in his 36-minute-long speech.
Modi also said that Ayodhya's temple is a temple of national consciousness in the form of Ram.
"Ram is India's faith... Ram is the basis of India, Ram lays down the rules in India, Ram is India's consciousness, Ram is India's pride, Ram is India's glory, Ram is India's influence, Ram is overarching. Therefore, when Ram is consecrated it has an effect not just for years and centuries but for thousands of years," he said.
Earlier, the Ram Lalla idol was unveiled at the Pran Pratishtha ceremony after the hour-long rituals in the presence of Modi who led the ceremony.