Mumbai, Jan 22 (Reporter) Maharashtra joined the nation on Monday in celebrating the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple at Ayodhya with processions, prayers, lights and rangoli. Cutting across religion, caste, communities, and gender, people took out processions across the state - as there were cheers and tears with the d-day arriving after a wait of almost 500 years. At households, people performed pooja as the first glimpse of the diety was flashed on TV screens. In the streets, people were seen with flags depicting the designs of the temples and images of Lord Ram, Sita, Laxman and Hanuman. Chants of ‘Jai Shree Ram’, ‘Jai Sia Ram’ and ‘Jai Hanuman’ rent the air as people rejoiced and emotionally welcomed the moment. “I extend my greetings to one and all for the pran-pratishta of Lord Ram,” Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said. Shinde, accompanied by Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar and other cabinet colleagues and the top leadership of the three parties, would visit Ayodhya in the next few days for darshan. At the Shri Mahalakshmi Jagdamba Mandir at Koradi, Fadnavis took part in the preparation of 6,000 kgs of halwa. It was the initiative of state BJP President and MLC Chandrashekhar Bawankule and renowned Chef Vishnu Manohar. The world's largest kadai, called Hanuman Kadai has been made for the purpose. The Kadai would be sent to Ayodhya. Consul General of Israel to Midwest India, Mumbai, Kobbi Shoshani visited the Wadala Ram temple to offer prayers to Lord Ram. “For today, I visited the historic Shree Ram Mandir in Wadala, Mumbai,” he said. In Mumbai, Mukesh Ambani’s iconic residence, Antilia, is being lit up for the occasion. A Ram temple theme rangoli was held at Virar railway station, while the iconic Bandra-Worli sea link was lit up ahead of the ceremony...////...