PHOTOS: Historic Ayodhya Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs rituals during the groundbreaking ceremony of a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Ram, in Ayodhya, India, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. Hindus rejoiced as Modi broke ground on a long-awaited temple of their most revered god, Ram, at the site of a demolished 16th century mosque. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs rituals during the groundbreaking ceremony of a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Ram, in Ayodhya, India, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs rituals during the groundbreaking ceremony of a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Ram, in Ayodhya, India, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs rituals during the groundbreaking ceremony of a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Ram, in Ayodhya, India, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs rituals during the groundbreaking ceremony of a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Ram, in Ayodhya, India, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs rituals during the groundbreaking ceremony of a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Ram, in Ayodhya, India, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs rituals during the groundbreaking ceremony of a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Ram, in Ayodhya, India, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs rituals during the groundbreaking ceremony of a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Ram, in Ayodhya, India, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020.

Ayodhya Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan

Ayodhya Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan

Ayodhya Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan

Ayodhya Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan

Ayodhya Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan

Ayodhya Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan

Ayodhya Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan

Ayodhya Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan

Ayodhya Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan

Ayodhya Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan

Ayodhya Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan

Ayodhya Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan

Ayodhya Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan

Ayodhya Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan

Ayodhya Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan

Ayodhya Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan

Ayodhya Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan

Hindu priests prepare the site for a groundbreaking ceremony of a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Ram in Ayodhya, India, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. The coronavirus is restricting a large crowd, but Hindus were joyful before Prime Minister Narendra Modi breaks ground Wednesday on a long-awaited temple of their most revered god Ram at the site of a demolished 16th century mosque in northern India. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh state Yogi Adityanath inspects the site for a groundbreaking ceremony of a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Ram in Ayodhya, India, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. The coronavirus is restricting a large crowd, but Hindus were joyful before Prime Minister Narendra Modi breaks ground Wednesday on a long-awaited temple of their most revered god Ram at the site of a demolished 16th century mosque in northern India. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Hindus offer prayers for a groundbreaking ceremony of a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Ram in Ayodhya, at the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, or World Hindu Council, headquarters in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. The coronavirus is restricting a large crowd, but Hindus were joyful before Prime Minister Narendra Modi breaks ground Wednesday on a long-awaited temple of their most revered god Ram at the site of a demolished 16th century mosque in northern India. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Hindus offer prayers for a groundbreaking ceremony of a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Ram in Ayodhya, at the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, or World Hindu Council, headquarters in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. The coronavirus is restricting a large crowd, but Hindus were joyful before Prime Minister Narendra Modi breaks ground Wednesday on a long-awaited temple of their most revered god Ram at the site of a demolished 16th century mosque in northern India. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

A policeman stands guard on a roof before the arrival of India's Prime Minister to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 5, 2020. - India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for a grand Hindu temple in a highly anticipated ceremony on August 5 at a holy site that was bitterly contested by Muslims, officials said. The Supreme Court ruled in November 2019 that a temple could be built in Ayodhya, where Hindu zealots demolished a 460-year-old mosque in 1992. (Photo by Sanjay KANOJIA / AFP) (Photo by SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP via Getty Images)

Police block a road before the arrival of India's Prime Minister to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 5, 2020. - India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for a grand Hindu temple in a highly anticipated ceremony on August 5 at a holy site that was bitterly contested by Muslims, officials said. The Supreme Court ruled in November 2019 that a temple could be built in Ayodhya, where Hindu zealots demolished a 460-year-old mosque in 1992. (Photo by Sanjay KANOJIA / AFP) (Photo by SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP via Getty Images)

Police stand guard at a road before the arrival of India's Prime Minister to participate in a groundbreaking ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 5, 2020. - India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for a grand Hindu temple in a highly anticipated ceremony on August 5 at a holy site that was bitterly contested by Muslims, officials said. The Supreme Court ruled in November 2019 that a temple could be built in Ayodhya, where Hindu zealots demolished a 460-year-old mosque in 1992. (Photo by Sanjay KANOJIA / AFP) (Photo by SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP via Getty Images)

Shilpa Bhatt, 40, an entrepreneur and manufacturer-supplier of chocolates gives finishing touches to the model of Ram temple of Ayodhya on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on August 4, 2020. - Shilpa made the Ram Temple of Ayodhya chocolate model using some 15 kg chocolates in some 12 hours. (Photo by SAM PANTHAKY / AFP) (Photo by SAM PANTHAKY/AFP via Getty Images)

AMRITSAR, INDIA - AUGUST 4: Famous kite-maker Jagmohan Kanojia showing his decorated kite with images of the Hindu God Ram ahead of the foundation stone laying of Ram Temple in Ayodha, at the historic Veer Bhan Temple on August 4, 2020 in Amritsar, India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Wednesday attend a public function on laying of the foundation stone of 'Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir' at Ayodhya. Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust set up for the construction and management of Ram temple, has invited 175 eminent guests for the foundation stone-laying ceremony after personally discussing with BJP veterans L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, lawyer K Parasaran and other dignitaries. (Photo by Sameer Sehgal/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

AMRITSAR, INDIA - AUGUST 4: Famous kite-maker Jagmohan Kanojia showing his decorated kite with images of the Hindu God Ram ahead of the foundation stone laying of Ram Temple in Ayodha, at the historic Veer Bhan Temple on August 4, 2020 in Amritsar, India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Wednesday attend a public function on laying of the foundation stone of 'Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir' at Ayodhya. Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust set up for the construction and management of Ram temple, has invited 175 eminent guests for the foundation stone-laying ceremony after personally discussing with BJP veterans L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, lawyer K Parasaran and other dignitaries. (Photo by Sameer Sehgal/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

NEW DELHI, INDIA - AUGUST 4: A worker arranges diyas or earthen lamps which were distributed by BJP MP Parvesh Verma outside his official residence on the eve of the foundation stone laying in Ayodhya of the Ram Temple, on August 4, 2020 in New Delhi, India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Wednesday attend a public function on laying of the foundation stone of 'Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir' at Ayodhya. Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust set up for the construction and management of Ram temple, has invited 175 eminent guests for the foundation stone-laying ceremony after personally discussing with BJP veterans L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, lawyer K Parasaran and other dignitaries. (Photo by Mohd Zakir/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

NEW DELHI, INDIA - AUGUST 4: BJP leader Vijay Goel, along with a group of supporters, pasted a poster reading 5 August Marg on a sign at Babar Road, at Bengali Market on August 4, 2020 in New Delhi, India. Goel has demanded that Babar Road, named after the Mughal ruler, should be renamed either to 5 August Marg or be named after an eminent personality. (Photo by Arvind Yadav/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

AYODHYA, INDIA - AUGUST 4: An estimated 1.25 Lakh laddus are being prepared by Mahavir Temple Trust Patna on the eve of the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Ram Janmabhumi temple on August 4, 2020 in Ayodhya, India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Wednesday attend a public function on laying of the foundation stone of 'Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir' at Ayodhya. Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust set up for the construction and management of Ram temple, has invited 175 eminent guests for the foundation stone-laying ceremony after personally discussing with BJP veterans L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, lawyer K Parasaran and other dignitaries. (Photo by Deepak Gupta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

AYODHYA, INDIA - AUGUST 4: An estimated 1.25 Lakh laddus are being prepared by Mahavir Temple Trust Patna on the eve of the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Ram Janmabhumi temple on August 4, 2020 in Ayodhya, India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Wednesday attend a public function on laying of the foundation stone of 'Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir' at Ayodhya. Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust set up for the construction and management of Ram temple, has invited 175 eminent guests for the foundation stone-laying ceremony after personally discussing with BJP veterans L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, lawyer K Parasaran and other dignitaries. (Photo by Deepak Gupta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

AYODHYA, INDIA - AUGUST 4: Earthen lamps laid out as part of decorations on the eve of the Ram Temple foundation laying ceremony on August 4, 2020 in Ayodhya, India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Wednesday attend a public function on laying of the foundation stone of 'Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir' at Ayodhya. Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust set up for the construction and management of Ram temple, has invited 175 eminent guests for the foundation stone-laying ceremony after personally discussing with BJP veterans L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, lawyer K Parasaran and other dignitaries. (Photo by Deepak Gupta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

AYODHYA, INDIA - AUGUST 4: Rangoli being made as part of decorations on the eve of the Ram Temple foundation laying ceremony on August 4, 2020 in Ayodhya, India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Wednesday attend a public function on laying of the foundation stone of 'Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir' at Ayodhya. Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust set up for the construction and management of Ram temple, has invited 175 eminent guests for the foundation stone-laying ceremony after personally discussing with BJP veterans L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, lawyer K Parasaran and other dignitaries. (Photo by Deepak Gupta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

AYODHYA, INDIA - AUGUST 4: A sadhu in reverence next to stone pillars prepared for the Ram Janmabhoomi temple at the Ram Janm Bhoomi Nyas Karsevak Puram on August 4, 2020 in Ayodhya, India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Wednesday attend a public function on laying of the foundation stone of 'Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir' at Ayodhya. Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust set up for the construction and management of Ram temple, has invited 175 eminent guests for the foundation stone-laying ceremony after personally discussing with BJP veterans L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, lawyer K Parasaran and other dignitaries. (Photo by Deepak Gupta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

AYODHYA, INDIA - AUGUST 4: A vendor holds up a poster featuring the Hindu god Ram, on the eve of the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Ram Janmabhumi temple on August 4, 2020 in Ayodhya, India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Wednesday attend a public function on laying of the foundation stone of 'Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir' at Ayodhya. Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust set up for the construction and management of Ram temple, has invited 175 eminent guests for the foundation stone-laying ceremony after personally discussing with BJP veterans L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, lawyer K Parasaran and other dignitaries. (Photo by Deepak Gupta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

AYODHYA, INDIA - AUGUST 4: Locals and Hindu sadhus seen on the eve of the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Ram Janmabhumi temple on August 4, 2020 in Ayodhya, India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Wednesday attend a public function on laying of the foundation stone of 'Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir' at Ayodhya. Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust set up for the construction and management of Ram temple, has invited 175 eminent guests for the foundation stone-laying ceremony after personally discussing with BJP veterans L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, lawyer K Parasaran and other dignitaries. (Photo by Deepak Gupta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

AYODHYA, INDIA - AUGUST 4: NSG commandos on alert at Hanuman Garhi temple on the eve of the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Ram Janmabhumi temple on August 4, 2020 in Ayodhya, India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Wednesday attend a public function on laying of the foundation stone of 'Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir' at Ayodhya. Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust set up for the construction and management of Ram temple, has invited 175 eminent guests for the foundation stone-laying ceremony after personally discussing with BJP veterans L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, lawyer K Parasaran and other dignitaries. (Photo by Deepak Gupta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

A shop keeper sits inside his book shop near Hanuman Garhi Temple before the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Gournd breaking ceremony of Ram Temple ,during the Covid 19 pandemic, in Ayodhya, India on August 4, 2020. (Photo by Ritesh Shukla/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

A devotee crosses Saryu river after after lighting up earthen lamps on a day before the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Ground breaking ceremony of Ram Temple ,during the Covid 19 pandemic, in Ayodhya, India on August 4, 2020. (Photo by Ritesh Shukla/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Devotees and local people of Ayodhya lit up earthen lamps on the banks of Saryu river on a day before the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Gournd breaking ceremony of Ram Temple ,during the Covid 19 pandemic, in Ayodhya, India on August 4, 2020. (Photo by Ritesh Shukla/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

A view of decorated view of 'Ram Ki Paidi' Saryu river on a day before the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Gournd breaking ceremony of Ram Temple ,during the Covid 19 pandemic, in Ayodhya, India on August 4, 2020. (Photo by Ritesh Shukla/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Hindu devotees gather while lighting earthen lamps on the banks of the River Sarayu on the eve before the groundbreaking ceremony of the proposed Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 4, 2020. - India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for a grand Hindu temple in a highly anticipated ceremony at a holy site that was bitterly contested by Muslims, officials said. (Photo by SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP)

Hindu devotees gather while lighting earthen lamps on the banks of the River Sarayu on the eve before the groundbreaking ceremony of the proposed Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 4, 2020. - India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for a grand Hindu temple in a highly anticipated ceremony at a holy site that was bitterly contested by Muslims, officials said. (Photo by SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP)

Hindu devotees gather while lighting earthen lamps on the banks of the River Sarayu on the eve before the groundbreaking ceremony of the proposed Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 4, 2020. - India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for a grand Hindu temple in a highly anticipated ceremony at a holy site that was bitterly contested by Muslims, officials said. (Photo by SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP)

Hindu devotees gather while lighting earthen lamps on the banks of the River Sarayu on the eve before the groundbreaking ceremony of the proposed Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 4, 2020. - India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for a grand Hindu temple in a highly anticipated ceremony at a holy site that was bitterly contested by Muslims, officials said. (Photo by SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP)

Ayodhya celebrations

Hindu devotees light oil lamps forming the words "Shri Ram" as they celebrate on the eve of groundbreaking ceremony of the proposed Ram Temple, in Ayodhya, at the Ram Temple in Amritsar on August 4, 2020. - India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for a grand Hindu temple in a highly anticipated ceremony at a holy site that was bitterly contested by Muslims, officials said. (Photo by NARINDER NANU / AFP) (Photo by NARINDER NANU/AFP via Getty Images)

Hindu devotees light oil lamps forming the words "Shri Ram" as they celebrate on the eve of groundbreaking ceremony of the proposed Ram Temple, in Ayodhya, at the Ram Temple in Amritsar on August 4, 2020. - India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for a grand Hindu temple in a highly anticipated ceremony at a holy site that was bitterly contested by Muslims, officials said. The Supreme Court ruled in November 2019 that a temple could be built in Ayodhya, where Hindu zealots demolished a 460-year-old mosque in 1992. (Photo by NARINDER NANU / AFP) (Photo by NARINDER NANU/AFP via Getty Images)

Hindu devotees gather whiel lighting earthen lamps on the banks of the River Sarayu on the eve before the groundbreaking ceremony of the proposed Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 4, 2020. - India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for a grand Hindu temple in a highly anticipated ceremony at a holy site that was bitterly contested by Muslims, officials said. The Supreme Court ruled in November 2019 that a temple could be built in Ayodhya, where Hindu zealots demolished a 460-year-old mosque in 1992. (Photo by SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP) (Photo by SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP via Getty Images)

Hindu devotees light earthen lamps on the banks of the River Sarayu on the eve before the groundbreaking ceremony of the proposed Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 4, 2020. - India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for a grand Hindu temple in a highly anticipated ceremony at a holy site that was bitterly contested by Muslims, officials said. The Supreme Court ruled in November 2019 that a temple could be built in Ayodhya, where Hindu zealots demolished a 460-year-old mosque in 1992. (Photo by SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP) (Photo by SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP via Getty Images)

Banners with the images of (L-R) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lord Ram and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath are seen along the banks of the River Sarayu on the ever before the groundbreaking ceremony of the proposed Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 4, 2020. - India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for a grand Hindu temple in a highly anticipated ceremony at a holy site that was bitterly contested by Muslims, officials said. The Supreme Court ruled in November 2019 that a temple could be built in Ayodhya, where Hindu zealots demolished a 460-year-old mosque in 1992. (Photo by SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP) (Photo by SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP via Getty Images)

Hindu devotees light earthen lamps on the banks of the River Sarayu on the eve before the groundbreaking ceremony of the proposed Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 4, 2020. - India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for a grand Hindu temple in a highly anticipated ceremony at a holy site that was bitterly contested by Muslims, officials said. The Supreme Court ruled in November 2019 that a temple could be built in Ayodhya, where Hindu zealots demolished a 460-year-old mosque in 1992. (Photo by SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP) (Photo by SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP via Getty Images)

Hindu devotees gather whiel lighting earthen lamps on the banks of the River Sarayu on the eve before the groundbreaking ceremony of the proposed Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 4, 2020. - India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for a grand Hindu temple in a highly anticipated ceremony at a holy site that was bitterly contested by Muslims, officials said. The Supreme Court ruled in November 2019 that a temple could be built in Ayodhya, where Hindu zealots demolished a 460-year-old mosque in 1992. (Photo by SANJAY KANOJIA / AFP) (Photo by SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP via Getty Images)

A kite-maker poses with kites decorated with the pictures of Ram Temple, lord Ram Darbar and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Amritsar on August 4, 2020, a day before the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of Lord Ram Temple in Ayodhya. - India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for a grand Hindu temple in a highly anticipated ceremony at a holy site that was bitterly contested by Muslims, officials said. The Supreme Court ruled in November 2019 that a temple could be built in Ayodhya, where Hindu zealots demolished a 460-year-old mosque in 1992. (Photo by Narinder NANU / AFP) (Photo by NARINDER NANU/AFP via Getty Images)

Ayodhya celebrations