Sabke Ram: As Pran Pratishtha ceremony for the idol of Shri Ram Lalla at the newly constructed Ram Mandir in Ayodhya nears, the organisers are set to disclose some crucial details of the mega event scheduled for January 22, according to Champat Rai, General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.Pre-rituals of Ram Mandir to begin todayAccording to the Chief Ministers Office, the programme and worship ritual of Shri Ram Lalla in his new Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will start on January 16, while the idol is to be placed in the sanctum sanctorum on January 18.Champat Rai has briefed the media regarding the plans for the consecration rituals ahead of the installation of the idol in the inner sanctum on January 22. The idol placement will coincide with the auspicious Abhijit Muhurta time of 12:20 pm on Paush Shukla Dwadashi.Prominent leaders to grace Ram Mandir Pran PratishthaPrime Minister Narendra Modi, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, Governor Anandiben Patel, Ram Janmabhoomi Trust President Mahant Nritya Gopal Das and other trustees will be present for the Pran Pratistha ceremony, Rai confirmed.Notably, the Pran Pratishtha date and timing were recommended by Varanasi-based priest Ganeshwar Shastri. Laxmikant Dixit, also from Varanasi, will conduct the rituals.How much does Ram Lallas stone idol weighRai explained that preparatory worship will take place January 16-21, with minimum activities on the 22nd for the final idol installation. The stone idol weighs an estimated 150-200 kg and depicts a 5-year-old standing Ram Lalla.As per tradition, the idol undergoes various residences including in water, food, fruits, medicines, ghee and fragrances to prepare it for placement. Rai acknowledged this is a complicated process requiring guidance from religious authorities.When Ram Mandir be open to publicImportantly, devotees should note that darshan will not be available on January 20 and 21. However, the temple will open for public darshan from January 23 onwards.The consecration rituals mark a significant milestone for the Ram Mandir after years of legal battles and a landmark Supreme Court verdict in 2019 paved the way for construction at the disputed Ayodhya site. The sprawling temple campus is expected to be a major pilgrimage draw.
