In Ayodhya’s Ram Janmabhoomi temple, the new idol of Lord Ram, sculpted in black stone by artist Arun Yogiraj, was placed on Thursday. The idol depicts Lord Ram as a five-year-old child in a standing posture, with its 51-inch face covered by a veil.
The ‘pran pratishtha’ or consecration ceremony is scheduled for January 22, to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with public access beginning on January 23. PM Modi has advised against visiting Ayodhya on January 22, urging people to light a diya at home. Over 11,000 guests, including Sachin Tendulkar and Amitabh Bachchan, are invited to the ceremony, attended by temple trustees, seers, and those involved in the temple’s construction.
Rituals preceding the consecration have commenced, and PM Modi is reportedly following specific rules, sleeping on the floor and consuming only coconut water.
