The idol of Lord Ram Lalla is set to be placed inside the newly constructed Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Wednesday. The week-long Pran Pratishtha ceremony is underway, and today marks the second day of the event.
The idol of Ram Lalla, sculpted from black stone by Mysuru artist Arun Yogiraj, weighs between 150-200 kg. The procession to bring the idol to the temple, known as “parisar pravesh” or “entry,” began last night. The idol was carefully loaded onto a flower-adorned truck with the assistance of a crane.
The Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has outlined the schedule for the day’s events. Around 1:20 pm, several rituals will be conducted before the idol officially enters the temple premises. These rituals include Jal Yatra, Teerth Pujan, Brahmin-Batuk-Kumari-Suvasini Pujan, Vardhini Pujan, and Kalashyatra.
Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid, the chief priest of the temple, explained, “On Wednesday, January 17, after 1:20 pm, there will be Jalayatra, Teertha Puja, Brahmin-Batuk-Kumari-Suvasini Puja, Vardhini Puja, Kalshayatra, and a perambulation of the idol of Lord Shri Ram Lalla in the Prasad premises.”
Following the perambulation, the idol will be placed inside the temple, and the official installation in the sanctum sanctorum will take place tomorrow. The elaborate six-day rituals will culminate in the grand consecration or Pran Pratishtha ceremony on January 22, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to be among the dignitaries in attendance.
General secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Champat Rai, announced that the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple will open for ‘darshan’ for the general public starting January 23. Preparations for this event are currently underway in full swing.
