The Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya is the crowning glory of Modi's Hindu nationalist ambition and is expected to boost his credentials in this year's election.

An idol of Lord Ram, one of Hinduism's most revered deities, was unveiled in a consecration ceremony conducted by Modi and broadcast to millions.

Many Hindus will be celebrating the opening of the much-awaited complex, which is seen by them as the birthplace of Ram. But for the country's minority Muslim population, it's a painful reminder of religious divisions that have grown more pronounced under Modi's rule. 

Adityanath has governed India's most populous state since 2017, when the Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appointed him leader after claiming victory in state polls that year.

But the appointment of Adityanath, a Hindu priest, indicated to some experts that it was yet another sign of the BJP's Hindutva ideology – which strives to make secular India the land of the Hindus.

Adityanath has since become one of the country's more polarizing political figures.

Since he took office, the state has already passed legislation that, critics say, is rooted in Hindutva ideology. It has protected cows, an animal considered sacred to Hindus, from slaughter, and made it increasingly difficult to transport cattle.

Adityanath has been a vocal advocate for the construction of the Ram Temple and attended the consecration ceremony inside the building.

Meanwhile, the chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the right-wing parent organization of the BJP, declared the temple "has become a symbol of a new India that will stand tall."