Lucknow: Ayodhya witnessed a historic moment on Tuesday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted a saffron flag atop the towering 191-foot shikhara of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, formally marking the completion of the long-awaited shrine. The ceremony, steeped in symbolism, drew thousands of devotees who gathered to witness what the Prime Minister described as “a moment of cultural rebirth for the nation.”
Addressing the gathering after the dhwajarohan ceremony, PM Modi said the country was experiencing an unprecedented wave of spiritual unity. “Today, Ayodhya is not just a city—it is the heartbeat of India’s cultural consciousness. The entire nation, and indeed the entire world, is absorbed in the devotion of Lord Ram,” he declared.
The Prime Minister said that the event represented far more than the installation of a flag. “This dhwajarohan is the revival of Indian culture,” he said, adding that it symbolized the closing of a painful chapter in India’s civilizational journey.
“Wounds of Centuries Are Healing”
In one of the most impactful lines of his speech, PM Modi said that India was witnessing the end of a centuries-long struggle.
“Today, the wounds of centuries are healing. The pain carried across generations is finding peace. This moment marks the completion of a yajna whose flame was ignited 500 years ago,” he said.
He added that the sense of fulfilment seen among devotees reflected an emotional milestone in India’s collective consciousness.
Government’s 10-Year Cultural Vision
Looking ahead, the Prime Minister outlined the centre’s cultural roadmap, asserting that the next decade would be dedicated to ending the “mentality of slavery” that he said had persisted since colonial times.
“We attained independence, but the inferiority complex planted by Macaulay lingered. We began believing that what is foreign is superior. The next 10 years will be a journey to completely free India from this mindset,” he said.
“India Is the Mother of Democracy”
PM Modi also countered long-standing narratives about India’s democratic foundations.
“It was repeatedly said that our Constitution was shaped only by foreign examples. But the truth is that India is the mother of democracy. Democracy is in our DNA,” he asserted, receiving loud applause from the gathering.
