Ram Navami celebrations dominated coverage, with Ram Lalla receiving the special "Surya Tilak" in Ayodhya as sunbeams illuminated the deity's forehead for four minutes amid traditional rituals. Approximately 500,000 devotees gathered while 200,000 diyas illuminated the city.
PM Modi inaugurated the Pamban Bridge in Tamil Nadu, Asia's first vertical lift railway sea bridge connecting Rameswaram to mainland India. The engineering marvel raises 22 meters in five minutes to allow ships to pass beneath. Modi also visited Ramanathaswami Temple and viewed Ram Setu from his aircraft.
Political tensions emerged when Modi criticized Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin for skipping the event and challenged Tamil leaders who "don't sign in Tamil" despite championing the language. P. Chidambaram countered by suggesting Modi consult "first-year economics students" regarding central fund allocations.
The Waqf Amendment Bill, passed in Parliament the previous day, received President Murmu's formal assent, even as legal challenges reached the Supreme Court.