'Slept on floor, drank coconut water': PM Modi recalls 11-day Anushthan before Ram Temple inauguration

‘Slept on floor, drank coconut water’: PM Modi recalls 11-day Anushthan before Ram Temple inauguration

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday that the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya was not an “event” for him but a seminal moment in his spiritual journey.

In an interview with news agency ANI, the Prime Minister recalled the 11-day Anushthan observed by him ahead of the January 22 inauguration event in Ayodhya.

PM Modi said that when he was invited to lead the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple, he wondered how he would fulfil such a huge responsibility.

“I sought advice of a few saints and seers … I reached out to people connected to my spiritual life. I thought I would not approach this opportunity as a Prime Minister but as a Ram Bhakt,” he said.

Recalling the 11-day period Anushthan (ritual), PM Modi said that he slept on the floor and survived on coconut water. He added that he went to all the places that Lord Ram visited.

“The 11-day Anushthan was a very critical period for my spiritual journey. I took Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha very seriously,” PM Modi told ANI.

PM Modi said that the inauguration was not a mere event for him but the realisation of a dream for which lakhs of people made sacrifices.

“During the period, I saw the 500 years of struggle and the faith of 140 crore people … the poor people of the country gave their hard-earned money to realise the dream,” PM Modi said.

He said that the Ram Temple was not built by the government money but the contributions made by the people.