In anticipation of the grand inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, the General Secretary of Shri Ram Janambhoomi Trust, Champat Rai, revealed that the 4’3” idol depicting Lord Ram in his 5-year-old form is nearly 90% complete.
Rai stated, “At three locations in Ayodhya, artisans are crafting the 5-year-old child form of Lord Ram on stone. One of these idols will be accepted by the Lord and installed in the ‘Grabhgriha’ on the ground floor. The idols are almost 90% ready, with final touches expected to be completed within a week.”
He further mentioned the seamless progress of the ground floor’s construction and assured no obstacles in the ‘Praan-Pratishtha’ (consecration ceremony). Rai disclosed plans to invite at least 4000 sadhus to the ceremony and confirmed the readiness of the invitee list.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to grace the inauguration. Office bearers of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Tirtha Kshetra, accompanied by religious leaders, extended an invitation to the Prime Minister.
The Vedic rituals for Ram Lalla’s Pran-Pratishtha ceremony will begin a week before the main event on January 16, 2024. On January 22, renowned Vedic priest Lakshmi Kant Dixit of Varanasi will perform the consecration rituals.
The Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust has scheduled the enshrinement of Ram Lalla in the temple’s sanctum-sanctorum between noon and 12:45 pm on the day of the ceremony, inviting 4000 saints of various sects to participate.
The Ram Temple’s foundation stone was laid by PM Modi on August 5, 2020, following the Supreme Court’s landmark verdict in 2019, allowing the temple’s construction. The temple’s development has been overseen by the Shri Ram Janma Bhoomi Tirtha Kshetra Trust, with progress continuously documented, showcasing ongoing floor inlay work and intricate carvings inside the temple.