Edited by Deepali Verma
After the consecration ceremony of Ram temple on January 22, close to 25 lakh devotees have visited the Ram Janmabhoomi in the span of 11 days, and the worth of offerings and donations have surpassed ₹11 crore. As per the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, about ₹8 crore has been deposited in the donation boxes in the last 10 days, while simultaneously around ₹3.50 crore was received online.
As per Prakash Gupta, office in-charge of the Trust, four big-size donation boxes have been placed near the darshan path in front of the sanctum-sanctorum, where the deity is seated, in which the devotees can donate offerings. Beyond this, people can also donate at 10 computerised counters.
Temple Trust employees overlooking these donation counters, submit the account of the donation amount received in the Trust office once the counter is closed in the evening.
A 14 employee team counts the offerings in the four donation boxes, which includes 11 bank employees and three temple trust employees.
Gupta informed that right from depositing the donation amount to counting it, everything is done under CCTV camera surveillance.
The all-weather Bijolia stone
Devotees can walk around comfortably, irrespective of the weather, on the Bijolia stones laid in around five lakh square feet, as per expert claims. The area will cover Parikrama area as well as Kuber Tila.
“This Bijolia stone of Rajasthan has a very special quality as it does not get too hot in summer, or too cold in winter. This stone does not deteriorate for about 1,000 years. It also has the ability to absorb water that is greater than other stones,” said Deeksha Jain, a stone expert.
Ayodhya receiving over 2 lakh devotees a day
Over 2 lakh devotees reach the Ram temple on a daily basis to have darshan of Ram Lalla, said Gupta.
