Ram Temple at Ayodhya to open for devotees before January 26: Construction Committee Chairman Nripendra Misra

Pilgrims eager to catch a glimpse of Lord Ram's child form at the Ayodhya temple will have their wish granted before January 26, 2024. The Chairman of Ayodhya Ram Mandir Construction Committee, Nripendra Misra, has provided an update on the temple's construction progress, assuring the public that the first phase of this grand project will conclude by December 2023.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Misra revealed that the ground floor of the temple boasts five mandaps, with the sanctum-sanctorum being the place where the deity will be enshrined. While the date for the "pran prathistha" (consecration) remains unconfirmed, Misra confirmed, "It is safe to announce through ANI that the pilgrims would be able to have a glimpse of Lord Ram in his child form definitely before January 26, 2024."



However, Misra refrained from providing an exact date, citing the need to await instructions from the Prime Minister's Office regarding Prime Minister Modi's participation on the final day of Pran Pratishtha. He emphasized the importance of respecting the PM's office in this matter.

Addressing the question of when the first batch of pilgrims could visit the grand Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya, Misra, who formerly served as the principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stated, "Their dream has come true. The temple is a reality. The temple will be completed in two parts, with Phase 1 set to conclude by December 2023. The first part encompasses the ground floor, spanning approximately 2.6 acres of land, featuring five mandaps, starting with the sanctum-sanctorum, where the deity will be installed."

"The ground floor showcases 160 pillars, each adorned with 25 distinct iconographical works. About 50 percent of the work on the lower plinth, which narrates the Ram Khatha based on carvings from Valmiki Ramayan, will be completed," he added.

The construction of the grand Ram temple gained momentum following the Supreme Court's 2019 verdict on the Ayodhya dispute, which cleared the way for this historic project. Subsequently, the Centre established the 'Shri Ram Janma Bhoomi Tirtha Kshetra' Trust to oversee all decisions pertaining to the temple's construction. The construction process has been advancing steadily under the trust's supervision, with the idol of Ram Lalla set to grace the temple's sanctum sanctorum.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for this significant endeavor on August 5, 2020, marking a historic moment in India's cultural and religious heritage.

(With inputs from ANI)