Ram Nath Kovind became the first President of the country to visit Ram Janmabhoomi and pay obeisance to Ram Lalla. The President also offered prayers at the Hanuman Garhi temple.
President Kovind along with the First Lady Savita Kovind, his daughter and other family members prayed at the Ram Lalla temple. He performed aarti and got blessings and prasad from the priests.
Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister of State for Railways Darshana Jardosh also did aarti of Ram Lalla. UP Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dr Dinesh Sharma were also present.
After worshiping Ram Lalla for around 15 minutes, the President planted a sapling of Rudraksha in the Ram Janmabhoomi premises.
A model of the Ram temple was presented to the President by the office-bearers of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and saints.
At the time of the President's visit, Ram Lalla wore a new pink dress.
Earlier, the President and his family members worshipped at the Hanuman Garhi temple and also did aarti amid reciting of hymns by the priest.
During their around 10-minute stay, the President was welcomed by the mahant of Hanuman Garhi by tying a religious turban. He was garlanded and presented Ramcharitramanas along with prasad.
The President and others also performed parikrama of the temple.
The President’s convoy reached the Hanuman Garhi temple by covering around 2.6 km from the Saryu guest house near Ram Katha Park.
At the guest house, the President also saw a presentation on the ongoing construction work of the Ram temple.
Although more than one crore devotees visit Ayodhya every year and they range from common people to veterans of different fields, this is the second time that a President has come to Ayodhya. In 1983, then President Giani Zail Singh had also visited Ayodhya but he visited Kanak Bhawan but skipped Ram Janmabhoomi premises.