As winter approaches, preparations have begun at Ayodhya’s Ram Janmabhoomi Temple to ensure that Lord Ram Lalla remains warm and comfortable during the colder months. Starting November 20, the deity will be dressed in woollen clothes, pashmina shawls, and custom-designed winter attire created by Delhi-based designers. The special garments will be flown to Ayodhya throughout the winter, as The Times of India reports.
The occasion of Aghan Panchami, which falls on November 20, marks the start of these winter rituals. On this day, Lord Ram Lalla’s usual offerings of yogurt will be replaced with rabri-kheer and dry fruits to suit the seasonal changes. Chief Priest Acharya Satyendra Das said, “Aghan ki Panchami is a significant day in Hindu tradition. Beginning that day, yogurt offerings to the deity will be stopped, and rabri-kheer will be offered along with dry fruits.”
The winter preparations also include changes to the daily rituals. Ram Lalla will be bathed with lukewarm water, and heaters will be installed in the sanctum sanctorum to maintain a warm environment. A warm air blower will be placed for extreme cold days.
The spokesperson of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Omkaar Singh, mentioned that the deity, depicted as a child, will be dressed in garments reflecting his princely status. The winter adjustments also extend to the idols of Lord Ram’s three brothers and Lord Hanuman, who reside in the Ram Darbar on the temple’s first floor.
The construction of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, initially expected to be completed by June 2025, has now been delayed until September 2025 due to a shortage of workers and the need to replace some stones on the temple’s first floor. Nripendra Mishra, chairman of the construction committee, confirmed the delay.
The idol of Lord Ram Lalla, sculpted by renowned artist Arun Yogiraj, was ceremoniously installed during the pran pratishtha ceremony on January 22, 2024. The event was attended by around 8,000 VVIPs, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi presiding over the rituals.
