The idol inside the sanctum sanctorum of Ram Temple.
AT 1.28 pm Thursday, the “auspicious” hour ordained by the priests, the 51-inch-tall idol of Ram Lalla, sculpted by Arun Yogiraj, was installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple amid chanting of hymns. Present at the ceremony were members of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust including Anil Mishra, Champat Rai and Swami Govind Giri
An eyewitness said that given the idol’s 200-kg weight and the restricted space for movement in the sanctum sanctorum, the installation was supervised by a team of engineers.
The idol was draped with wet cloth as part of the “Jaladhivas” ritual and then covered in a special paste made of Chandan and Kesar as part of “Gandhadhivas” ritual.
In parallel, rituals have started on the old idol as well, which is being referred to as “Rajat” or “Utsav” idol.
After the idol was installed, the sanctorum was cleaned and covered with a curtain. Only the Acharya performing the puja along with the “Yajman” will be allowed access to perform a series of rituals: starting with Ganesh Ambika Pujan, Varun Pujan and the Vastu Pujan.
Workers bring the idol of Ram Lalla at the 'Garbhagriha' of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, ahead of the temple's consecration ceremony, in Ayodhya. (PTI Photo)
The “mandap” was also prepared today to set the stage for the “hawan” which begins Friday in the run-up to the consecration on January 22.
The Centre has declared a half-day on January 22. “To enable employees to participate in the celebrations, it has been decided that all Central Government Offices, Central Institutions and Central Industrial Establishments throughout India will be closed for half day till 1430 hours on 22nd January, 2024,” the Department of Personnel and Training announced Thursday. “All Ministries/ Departments of the Government of India may bring the above decision to the notice of all concerned,” it added
In Ayodhya, one of the priests performing the rituals told The Indian Express: “Under Jaladhivas, the idol is, ideally, submerged in water from the river, but given the size of this idol, a water kalash (urn) is kept at the feet of the idol and a cloth soaked in water is draped over it.”
The “special paste of chandan mixed with kesar” was cleaned in the evening and the rituals ended with an aarti at 7.30 pm
The hawan will start around 9 am Friday at the mandap, about 100 metres from the temple, and will continue until January 22. Fire from this will be used to light the 'nine kundas' in the nine corners of the temple that will be lit 24X7,” said Arun Dixit, one of the priests who is part of the ritual.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday released six special commemorative postage stamps dedicated to the temple. He also released an album carrying similar stamps related to Lord Ram issued earlier in different countries.
“The Prime Minister said these commemorative stamps will also help our young generation in learning about Lord Ram and his life,” a statement from the PMO said.
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“The Prime Minister underlined that teachings related to Lord Ram, Maa Sita and Ramayana go beyond the boundaries of time, society and caste and are connected to each and every individual out there. He said Ramayana, which teaches about love, sacrifice, unity and courage even in the most difficult of times, connects the whole humanity…The Prime Minister said countries like America, Australia, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, Fiji, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Thailand, Guyana, Singapore are among the many nations which have issued postal stamps with great interest on the life events of Lord Ram,” it said.
PTI adds: Modi on Thursday asked his Cabinet colleagues to celebrate the Ram Temple consecration ceremony on January 22 like Diwali, by lighting diyas at their homes, and also feed the poor, sources said. Cabinet ministers, sources said, have also been urged to visit the temple along with devotees from their respective states after January 22.
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