Ayodhya: The consecration of the Ram temple in this holy town of Uttar Pradesh is seemingly a watershed moment in the history of independent India - more so because of the long history of legal, political, communal conflicts centreing the site, which now has been accepted as the birthplace of Lord Ram.
Here is a timeline:
1528: Mosque is constructed by Mughal Emperor Babur’s Commander Mir Baqi on the site. According to Hindus, Baqi demolished a temple to build the mosque.
1853: Violence occurs at site.
1859: British erect a fence – the inner court to be used by Muslims and the outer by Hindus.
1885: Mahant Raghubir Das unsuccessfully files a plea in the Faizabad District Court seeking permission to build a canopy outside the disputed structure.
1949: Idols of Lord Ram appear within the mosque. Hindus and Muslims file suits. Premises are proclaimed a disputed area and gates are locked.
1950: Gopal Simla Visharad files suit in Faizabad District Court for rights to worship the idol of Ram Lalla.
1984: Vishva Hindu Parishad constitutes a committee to "liberate" the birthplace of Lord Ram and construct a temple. BJP leader LK Advani assumes the campaign’s reins.
February 1, 1986: District court orders opening the gates of the disputed structure to facilitate worship by Hindus. Muslims form the Babri Mosque Action Committee.
1989: VHP lays the foundation of the shrine on land adjacent to the disputed structure.
August 14, 1989: Allahabad High Court orders maintenance of status quo.
October 30-Nov 2, 1990: Karseva begins at Ayodhya. Police open fire on Karsevaks killing several persons on the spot. However, the number of deceased was never disclosed.
December 6, 1992: Disputed structure is demolished, triggering nationwide disturbances.
April 3, 1993: Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act passed for acquisition of land by Centre.
October 24, 1994: Supreme Court says in Ismail Faruqui case that a mosque is not integral to Islam.
January 2002: Prime Minister AB Vajpayee sets up Ayodhya cell.
April 2002: Three Allahabad High Court judges begin hearings on determining ownership of site.
August 2003: An archaeological survey says there is evidence of temple beneath.
July 2005: Militants attack the site. Security forces neutralise attackers.
November 2009: Uproar in Parliament as Liberhan Commission's report is published and accuses BJP leaders of role in razing disputed structure.
September 30, 2010: Allahabad High Court rules the site be divided between Muslims, Hindus and Nirmohi Akhara. Control of principal disputed section given to Hindus.
May 9, 2011: Supreme Court stays High Court ruling after Hindu and Muslim groups appeal against 2010 verdict.
February 26, 2016: Subramanian Swamy files plea in the Supreme Court seeking construction of Ram Temple.
August 7, 2017: Supreme Court forms three-judge bench to hear pleas challenging 1994 verdict of Allahabad High Court.
November 20, 2017: UP Shia Central Waqf Board tells Supreme Court that a temple can be built in Ayodhya and a mosque in Lucknow.
March 14, 2018: Supreme Court rejects all interim pleas, including Swamy’s, seeking to intervene as parties in the case.
January 2019: The Supreme Court sets up five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi to hear the case.
November 9, 2019: Supreme Court delivers landmark verdict ordering the disputed 2.77 acres be transferred to trust for temple construction. The apex court also orders allocating five acres to Muslims for constructing a mosque.
August 5, 2020: Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays foundation stone for the construction of the temple.
January 22, 2024: Consecration of Ram Temple in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence.