Ram Mandir bhumi pujan live updates: Ram Temple digital billboard at New York's Times Square

"After years of penance by many people, the construction of Ram temple finally began in Ayodhya. People across the world are feeling happy and satisfied over it," she said.

Terming the foundation laying of Ram temple in Ayodhya as a "historic and proud day" for India, Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said it heralds the beginning of a new era. He said by starting the construction of the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written a golden chapter in the history of the great Indian civilisation, and asserted that the government remains committed to the preservation of Indian culture and its values.

The Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu has sent gold and silver coins, holy soil collected from the Kamakshi temple and the mutt, besides Vasthu (traditional Indian system of architecture) materials to be used in the Bhoomi pujan for constructing the Ram temple in Ayodhya on Wednesday. The soil specially obtained from the temples like Ekambranathar Swamy, Kamakshi and other Vishnu temples in the town were sent by flight to Ayodhya ahead of the Bhumi pujan, said Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamy, the 70th Acharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.