The highly anticipated consecration ceremony for the new Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will take place on January 22, completing a decades-long quest by Hindu groups to build a temple on the contested site believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram.The Pran Pratishtha event to install the idol of Ram Lalla will begin at 12:20 pm and conclude around 1 pm, though festivities are expected to last throughout the day on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend along with other dignitaries like UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and the trustee overseeing temple construction.The inauguration holds deep religious and political significance for many Hindus who view Ayodhya as a holy site. Some government offices in various states have declared holidays or half-days on January 22nd so staff can take part in the historic celebrations.What is the significance of Ayodhya Ram Mandir The Ayodhya Ram mandir is considered one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus. Ayodhya is considered the birthplace of Lord Ram and so, is considered a sacred place. The foundation stone for the Ram Mandir was laid on August 5, 2020, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Who created the Ram Lalla idolCrafted by sculptor Arun Yogiraj from Karnataka, the stunning 1.5-tonne Ram Lalla idol shows a five-year-old Lord Ram standing on a lotus base. At 51 inches tall, the figure required nearly 3 months of intense labor using traditional techniques. Its unveiling Friday offered the first glimpse of Ram Lallas serene face and other details like a tiny golden bow and arrow.Who oversees the Ram templeThe temple was designed and constructed under the direction of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, a trust formed on orders of the Supreme Court to manage the 2.7-acre premises. Larsen & Toubro (L&T) executed the actual building with guidance from IIT engineers.Which celebs are invited to Ram Mandirs inaugurationIn addition to politicians, over 7,000 special invitees from sports, entertainment, and business are expected to attend the consecration event. Cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Bollywood superstars Amitabh Bachchan, Rajnikant, Anushka Sharma, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, and industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani.Invitations have been sent to Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy and his wife and author Sudha Murty, S N Subrahmanyan of the L&T Group, Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu and former cricketer Venkatesh Prasad.What are the Darshan timings of Ram MandirStarting January 23, the temple will open for regular devotees from 7-11:30 am and 2-7 pm daily for the public. Those wishing to attend the special evening aarti must obtain a pass from the trust by providing valid ID proof.How to reach Ayodhya Ram MandirRecent infrastructure upgrades make reaching Ayodhya easier for pilgrims. The newly opened Maharishi Valmiki Airport connects flights to Delhi and other cities. Prime Minister Modi also inaugurated a special Vande Bharat Express train from Ayodhya to the capital. Of course, the temple city remains accessible by road.Several public and private service buses that operate regularly to Ayodhya are available. Buses from Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Delhi, and other major cities are provided by the Uttar Pradesh Transport Corporation.How much does Ram Mandir cost of Ram Mandir constructionThe Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra estimated in 2022 that total construction costs would reach ₹1,800 crore. By October 2022, it had already spent ₹900 crore on the project since laying the foundation stone in February 2020.How to watch Ram Mandirs inauguration onlineFor those unable to attend in person, the consecration will be broadcast online. Viewers can watch on our website - Top Indian News and follow updates on social media to participate virtually in this historic moment for Hindus nationwide.
