26-09-2023 : The construction of the ground floor of the three-storey Ram temple in Ayodhya is on track for completion by the end of December, with the consecration ceremony scheduled for January 22, according to Nripendra Mishra, the chairperson of the temple Construction Committee. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to participate in an event related to the “pran pratishtha” (consecration) of the temple during January 20-24. The construction committee is working on designing an apparatus to direct sun rays onto the deity’s forehead in the sanctum sanctorum on Ram Navami every year.
This significant construction project was initiated following a 2019 Supreme Court verdict that allowed for the construction of the Ram temple by a trust at the disputed site in Ayodhya. The court directed the Centre to allocate an alternative five-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for the construction of a mosque in Ayodhya. The trust overseeing the temple’s construction will formally invite Prime Minister Modi to the consecration ceremony, which involves installing the idol of Ram Lalla in the temple’s sanctum sanctorum.
The temple trust plans to begin the consecration process after Makar Sankranti on January 14 and observe a 10-day ritual for Ram Lalla’s consecration. The temple is expected to open for devotees on January 24 following the consecration ceremony.
Nripendra Mishra did not dismiss the suggestion that the ceremony’s timing, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, could have political implications. However, he emphasized that the temple construction is being carried out with the vision of its structure lasting for at least 1,000 years.
The “pran pratishtha” will be conducted in consultation with knowledgeable saints and sages, and a committee under the trust’s general secretary, Champat Rai, is working on the details of the ceremony. While the exact date of the Prime Minister’s attendance at the ceremony is yet to be confirmed, it is expected to be during January 20-24, as the PM’s schedule will be busy with Republic Day and other events afterward.
Regarding temple architecture and construction materials, Mishra mentioned that no iron has been used, and copper has been used to link stone blocks. The temple complex covers an area of about eight acres, including the “parikrama path,” and features ninety bronze panels depicting the life and duties of Lord Ram. Approximately Rs 900 crore has been spent on the temple’s construction, with an estimated total cost of Rs 1,700-1,800 crore for the entire complex.
Excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and discoveries during temple groundbreaking and construction have yielded various artifacts. Some of these items will be displayed in a proposed museum with permission from the ASI.
The consecration ceremony’s guest list is currently being prepared, including saints, seers, and individuals associated with the Ram temple movement, totaling approximately 10,000 invitees.