Ayodhya, Nov. 26 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hoisted the saffron 'dharma dhwaj' flag atop the Ram temple in Ayodhya and marked the formal completion of the project, proclaiming that the "wounds and pain of centuries" were healing as a 500-year-old resolve was finally fulfilled. In the presence of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, Modi hoisted the flag by rotating a lever amid slogans of "Jai Shri Ram" from the 8,000-strong crowd comprising seers, public representatives and other invitees. Later in the day in Haryana's Kurukshetra town, the PM also spoke about the road map for a Viksit Bharat (developed India) and said Operation Sindoor showed the world that while India desires peace, it never compromises on its security or bows before terrorism, as he addressed a special programme to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur. "Centuries of wounds are healing. Centuries of pain is finally being put to rest. Centuries of resolve is being fulfilled. Today marks the final offering of that yajna, whose fire burned for 500 years. A yajna that never wavered in faith, never wavered in belief," an emotional Modi said at the event also attended by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and governor Anandiben Patel. "Today, the energy of the Lord's sanctum sanctorum, this dharma dhwaj, is not just a flag; It is the banner of the renaissance of Indian civilisation. Its saffron colour, the fame of Suryavansh etched on it, the inscribed word Om, and the embossed Kovidar tree symbolise the glory of Ram Rajya," the prime minister said. Roughly five years after he conducted the foundation-laying ceremony for the temple, Modi operated an electronic lever clockwise to hoist the 11 x 22 feet flag atop the Ram temple. 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. Priests standing next to Modi recited Vedic hymns till the flag reached its destination. "This flag is a resolution, this flag is success, the saga of creation through struggle, the embodiment of a struggle that has been ongoing for centuries, the meaningful culmination of the spiritual practice of saints and the participation of society," Modi said. MORE STORIES ON P8...