Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened a controversial Hindu temple built on the ruins of a historic mosque in the northern city of Ayodhya, in a political triumph for the populist leader who is seeking to transform the country from a secular democracy into a Hindu state.
Please enable JavaScript to view this content. Open this photo in gallery: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, arrives to lead the opening of a temple dedicated to Hinduism’s Lord Ram in Ayodhya, India. Rajesh Kumar Singh/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the opening of the grand temple of the Hindu god Lord Ram in Ayodhya, India. Reuters
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Open this photo in gallery: A view of the audience during the opening of a temple dedicated to Hinduism’s Lord Ram in Ayodhya, India. Rajesh Kumar Singh/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: Indian industrialist Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita Ambani attend the opening of a temple dedicated to Hinduism’s Lord Ram in Ayodhya. Rajesh Kumar Singh/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: Hindu holy men throng to get the first look of the temple dedicated to Hinduism’s Lord Ram soon after its inauguration. Rajesh Kumar Singh/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: Hindu holy men attend the opening of a temple dedicated to Hinduism's Lord Ram in Ayodhya, India. Rajesh Kumar Singh/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: A man stands next to a rangoli of Hindu deity Lord Ram and the Ram temple created to celebrate the opening of the temple. FRANCIS MASCARENHAS/Reuters
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Open this photo in gallery: Hindu devotees light earthen lamp at Raghutnath temple in celebration of the grand opening of a temple dedicated to Hindu deity Lord Ram. Channi Anand/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: A Rapid Action Force member guards a street during the inauguration of the Hindu Lord Ram temple on a big screen, in Ayodhya. ADNAN ABIDI/Reuters
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Open this photo in gallery: An Indian Air Force helicopter showers flower petals during the opening of a temple dedicated to Hinduism’s Lord Ram in Ayodhya. Rajesh Kumar Singh/The Associated Press
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Open this photo in gallery: Children dressed as Hindu deities take part in an event to mark the consecration of Ayodhya Ram temple. GAGAN NAYAR/Getty Images
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Open this photo in gallery: People celebrate the opening of the grand temple of the Hindu god Lord Ram in the northern town of Ayodhya, in a street in New Delhi. ANUSHREE FADNAVIS/Reuters
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Open this photo in gallery: Supporters of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party celebrate as they watch a live stream of the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, outside the BJP headquarters in Mumbai. FRANCIS MASCARENHAS/Reuters
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Open this photo in gallery: Hindu devotees stand on a road side during the inauguration of the Hindu Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya, India. ADNAN ABIDI/Reuters
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