Ayodhya, Nov. 26 -- As Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, rotated an electronic lever clockwise to hoist the 11 x 22 feet 'dharma dhwaj' (saffron flag) atop the Ram temple in the presence of chief minister Yogi Adityanath, Ayodhya erupted in joy on Tuesday.

Modi stood in reverence with folded hands as the four-kg flag gradually started going up on a nylon rope towards the temple's spire at around 11.46am.

Priests standing next to Modi recited Vedic hymns till the flag reached its destination - the Ram temple's pinnacle. It took around four minutes for the flag to reach the top of the mast, weighing 700 tons, on the temple spire at around 11.50am.

As the flag completed its ascent, t...