The construction of the highly anticipated Ram Temple in Ayodhya is progressing rapidly, with the ground floor of the three-story temple scheduled for completion by the end of December. Nripendra Mishra, Chairperson of the temple’s Construction Committee, has announced that the consecration ceremony is slated for January 22, a momentous event likely to see Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance for the ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony, which will occur between January 20 and 24.
One of the temple’s unique features currently in development is an apparatus to be installed on the temple’s ‘shikhar.’ This device will align with the sun’s rays to illuminate the deity’s forehead in the sanctum sanctorum every Ram Navami. Scientists in Bengaluru are overseeing the design, with support from the Central Building Research Institute in Roorkee and an institute in Pune.
The construction of the Ram Temple became possible following a landmark 2019 Supreme Court verdict that authorized its construction at the disputed Ayodhya site. The court ruled that the 2.77 acres of disputed land, previously the location of the Babri Masjid, would be handed over to the trust within three months for temple construction.
The Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust will formally invite PM Modi to the consecration ceremony, scheduled after Makar Sankranti on January 14. Preceding the ceremony, there will be a 10-day ritual of ‘pran pratishtha’ for Ram Lalla.
On January 24, following the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol, the temple is expected to open its doors to devotees for ‘darshan.’ Notably, the temple’s construction refrains from using iron, with copper used to link stone blocks. Covering an expansive 2.5-acre area, including the ‘parikrama path,’ the temple complex will boast ninety bronze panels depicting Lord Ram’s life.
The estimated expenditure on the temple’s construction thus far stands at approximately Rs 900 crore, with an additional Rs 1,700 crore to Rs 1,800 crore expected to be allocated for the complex’s overall development. Artifacts unearthed during archaeological excavations and temple construction will find a home in a proposed museum, pending approval from the Archaeological Survey of India.
The consecration ceremony will be attended by an initial list of 10,000 individuals, including saints, seers, and those closely associated with the Ram temple movement.
