India (Commonwealth Union)_ The newly built Ram Temple in Ayodhya is all set for the grand consecration ceremony this year, with the ground floor set to be opened this month. The consecration of the temple, adorned with gold decorations, is slated for January 22, 2024, after Makar Sankranti, marking the beginning of the election year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who laid the foundation stone in August 2020, will preside over the ceremony. The iconic temple, dedicated to deity Ram, aims to captivate future generations of Hindus. Additionally, the media tours showcased the temple’s marvellous ornate sculptures and rich inlay work. The construction of all three floors is expected to conclude by 2025, with an estimated cost of £170 million.
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The temple, designed to accommodate 200,000 worshippers with almost 400 pillars and gold-plated doors, stands as the largest in India. Its construction emphasizes durability, avoiding the use of steel and ordinary cement. Additionally, the 12m deep foundation with a total of 47 layers, guided by consultations with IIT Chennai, incorporates soil that can transform into stone in 28 days. Officials assert that the temple, which is earthquake-resistant up to 6.5 magnitude, will not require repairs for at least 1,000 years. Constructed without iron or steel beams, the temple relies solely on stone. Soil from various Hindu holy sites contributes to the foundation, while specially made bricks were imprinted with “Lord Ram.” Additionally, the temple complex will include a museum, archives, a pilgrim facilitation center, a research center, an auditorium, a cattle shed, areas for rituals, administrative offices, and rooms for priests.
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Officials have stated that the idol depicting Ram as an infant will be consecrated on January 22. Accordingly, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi announced that the idol carved by Karnataka’s popular sculptor Arun Yogiraj will adore the grand Ram temple. The minister took to X (formerly Twitter) and posted, “The selection of the idol for the Prana Pratishtapana of Lord Rama in Ayodhya has been finalised. The idol of Lord Rama, carved by renowned sculptor of our country Yogiraj Arun, will be installed in Ayodhya.” According to temple officials, the idol embodies a divinity resembling an infant.
The temple’s symbolic importance relates to the BJP’s Hindu nationalist ideology, rooted in the restoration of a temple at a disputed site where a mosque stood until its demolition in 1992. The dispute regarding the site’s possession dates back to 1885. Hindus assert that the mosque was constructed by the Mughal emperor Babur subsequent to the demolishment of a temple situated at the location of Ram’s birth. The peak occurred in 1949, when Hindu deities were clandestinely introduced into the mosque. The BJP and other Hindu organizations advocated for the restoration of the Ram temple at the location in the 1980s. Following the mosque’s demolition in 1992, the BJP and the Muslim community engaged in a 27-year legal dispute over the site’s ownership. However, the Supreme Court settled the dispute in 2019, granting the site to Hindus and providing Muslims with an alternative location for a mosque.
As Ayodhya readies itself for the temple’s grand inauguration this month, expecting nearly 8,000 guests, the city’s infrastructure, including a new airport and illuminated railway station, reflects the anticipation. However, the project’s historical and emotional significance has left a lasting impact on India’s social fabric, highlighting religious and cultural complexities. Architectural facades throughout the city feature vibrant depictions of Ram and scenes from his youth and life. In the coming days, a brand-new airport will be inaugurated with the expectation that pilgrims will converge on the locale. Further, fluorescent pink illumination has been applied to the train station.
The Ram Temple signifies devotion for millions of ordinary Hindus. Ram is unquestionably the most venerated deity. They eagerly anticipate the opportunity to worship Lord Ram at the location that, as per Hindu mythology, signifies his place of birth. This monumental project, commemorating one of India’s significant historical events, stands as a moment of national pride for the country as well as for PM Modi and the BJP. The temple also signifies a great achievement for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India. They intend to portray the temple as the epitome of the newly revitalized Hindu India, which is filled with cultural pride.
