Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the much-anticipated Ram Mandir consecration, or pran-pratishtha, event in the temple town of Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday, January 22 – thus kicking off his re-election campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Tens of thousands of devotees have congregated in Ayodhya, waving flags, honking horns, and pounding drums, with roads congested, trains overcrowded, and dozens walking on foot.
The 50-meter-tall building of worship for Lord Ram Lalla was erected on the grounds of the Babri Masjid, which existed for centuries before being demolished in 1992 by karsevaks headed by then-Bharatiya Janata Party president Lal Krishna Advani.
Approximately 7,000 invitees, including politicians, businesspeople, celebrities, and athletes, are expected to attend the pran-pratishtha event, which is scheduled to begin at 12.20pm.
Here’s the whole list of activities planned for January 22:
10:25 a.m
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive at Ayodhya around 10:25 a.m. Modi would fly to Ayodhya and then take a chopper to the location.
10:55 a.m.
Modi will arrive at the Ram Temple grounds.
Between 11am and 12pm
The prime minister may tour the Ram Mandir premises.
Between 12:05pm and 1pm
Modi will preside over the pran-pratishtha ceremony, which will take place between 12:05pm and 1pm.
Around 1 p.m.
Modi will leave the temple grounds to address a crowd of approximately 7,000.
At 2:10pm
Modi will visit Kuber ka Tila, where the ancient temple of Bhagwan Shiv has been repaired.
Key Features of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya
The Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir, also known as Ram Temple, was built in the traditional Nagara style. It is 380 feet long (east to west), 250 feet wide, and 161 feet tall. It is supported by 392 pillars and features 44 doorways.
The temple’s pillars and walls have finely carved representations of Hindu deities, gods, and goddesses. The idol of Ram Lalla is located in the main sanctum sanctorum on the ground level of the Ram temple.
Fourteen couples from various regions of the nation will be the ‘yajmaans’ (hosts) for the ‘pran-pratishtha’ of the new 51-inch idol of Ram Lalla. Arun Yogiraj, a Mysuru resident, created the statue, which was put in the temple’s sanctuary on Thursday.
The Ram Mandir has been decked with “rich stocks” of flowers and spectacular lighting.
Rituals started on January 16.
According to the temple trust, the consecration ceremonies for the ‘pran Pratishtha’ began on January 16 near the Saryu river and will end on Monday afternoon in the ‘abhijeet muhurta’.
Lakhs of people are expected to witness the ceremony live on television and internet platforms, with the national government declaring a half-day vacation and several states following suit.
Temples around the country have announced special celebrations for the occasion.
