Ayodhya temple prepares to consecrate Lord Ram as 'king' next month: Report

More than a year after the 'pran pratishtha' ceremony of Ram Lalla, the Ram temple in Ayodhya is gearing up for another 'kingly' consecration next month.

According to an Indian Express report, this upcoming ceremony will symbolically install Lord Ram as king. Earlier, he was the Ram Lalla.

This will be done after the installation of the Ram Durbar or royal court on the temple’s first floor. It will be a much more low-key affair compared to the ostentatious, grand event held on January 22 last year.

The Ram Lalla event held at the newly-constructed Ram Temple last year had drawn over 8,000 people and was presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Also Read: Ayodhya: 28 lakh lamps to be lit along Saryu river for Ram temple's first Diwali

Second consecration

Further, the report added that preparations are already underway for this ceremony, which will also mark the final stages of the temple construction.

“About 20,000 cubic feet of stone is yet to be laid in the temple,” the report quoted Nripendra Misra, head of the temple construction committee and former principal secretary to the PM.

The idol of Ram Lalla was created by Karnataka-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj, while the Ram Durbar is being carved out of white Makrana marble by 20 artisans in Jaipur, led by Prashant Pandey, IE reported.

A grand statue of Saint Tulsidas, who authored Ramcharitmanas, the widely celebrated version of the Ramayan, is also being erected in the complex.

Also Read: Ram Navami: 'Surya Tilak' ceremony of Lord Ram takes place at Ayodhya temple

Architecture and expansion

The traditional Nagara-style temple spans 380 ft x 250 ft, rising to 161 ft in height. It is supported by 392 intricately carved pillars and 44 doors. Once complete, the parkota (compound wall) will enclose the entire complex.

Insiders say that 90 per cent of the work is already complete, and the entire complex – including the parkota – is expected to be finished within this year.

Beyond the temple

A 20-acre green zone is being developed around the structure to enhance natural aesthetics. Nearby, the International Ramkatha Museum, around 4 km from the temple, is expected to offer an immersive experience with holograms, interactive storytelling, and artefacts from past excavations.

Artefacts unearthed during archaeological excavations at the site will also be displayed for public viewing in the museum.

Also Read: Ayodhya’s Ram temple to remain closed for an hour every day for Ram Lalla’s rest