Ram Temple: We will lay foundation stone on February 21, says Swaroopanand Saraswati

Religious leader Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati on Monday reiterated that he and his followers we will head towards Ayodhya from Prayagraj on February 17  and a ceremony to mark the start of construction of a Ram temple in the town will take place on February 21.The date for the planned ceremony, akin to a 'shilanyas', was announced at the end of a three-day congregation of seers at the Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj (Allahabad).

Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati: On 17 February, we will head towards Ayodhya from Prayagraj and on 21 February we will lay the foundation stone of Ram Temple. pic.twitter.com/8FWlgcyfvb

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) February 11, 2019

The announcement comes a day after the Centre filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking permission to transfer surplus land adjacent to the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site to its original owners.Earlier, the dharamadesh (edict) had issued by the Dwarka Peeth Shankaracharya after the Dharam Sansad urged Hindus to reach Ayodhya carrying four bricks each. The planned ceremony is being called ishtika nyas, or the laying of bricks.