Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday requested devotees of Lord Ram across the country not to rush to Ayodhya for the grand consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir on January 22.

Addressing a gathering in Ayodhya, PM Modi said, "I have a request for everyone. Everyone has a wish to come to Ayodhya to be a part of the event on 22 January. But you know it is not possible for everyone to come. Therefore, I request all Ram devotees to come to Ayodhya at their convenience once the formal program is done on January 22."

While urging people not to come on the day itself, he asked them to light diyas in their houses on January 22 so that the whole country basks in glory. PM Modi also asked people to launch cleanliness drives at pilgrimage sites and temples across the country from January 14 and January 22.