Edited by Deepali Verma
The new idol of Lord Ram was seated inside the Ayodhya’s Ram Temple on January 19 ahead of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ or consecration ceremony on January 22.
The first photo of the idol was shared by Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje on the morning of January 19 which depicts the deity as a five-year-old child in a standing posture.
The 51-inch idol is sculpted by the Mysuru-based artist Arun Yogiraj. The idol is made of black stone. As the Ram Lalla idol was being placed in the sanctum-sanctorum, there resonated a chanting of prayers.
The rituals for the temple consecration began on January 12. PM Modi is set to perform the puja for the “Pran Pratistha’ on January 22, as per the sources. The main rituals of the Pran Prathistha ceremony will be conducted by Lakshmikant Dixit along with his team.
The Prime Minister is currently following a definite set of rules and rituals ahead of his participation in the consecration ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram Temple.
Sources have revealed that the Prime Minister is sleeping on the floor with only a blanket and has been consuming only coconut water.
The public has been encouraged by him to not visit Ayodhya on January 22 as “we would not like to cause any problems to Lord Ram”, adding that everyone can start their journey from January 23.
Further, he asked every Bharatiya to light a diya in their homes on January 22.
The consecration is expected to be witnessed by over 11,000 guests from across the country and abroad who have specially been invited by the temple trust.
