New Delhi: Before the grand consecration ceremony, the idol of Ram Lalla was placed in the sanctum sanctorum of Ayodhya’s Ram Temple. The 51-inch-tall idol of Lord Ram depicting his childhood stage was installed late Thursday night, ahead of Ram Mandir’s ‘Pran Pratishtha’ on January 22, 2024.
The media in charge of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad Sharad Sharma shared the first photograph of the idol, which showed the murti covered in a veil. Vedic Brahmins and esteemed Acharyas were seen conducting worship ceremonies on the Sri Ram Temple’s sacred grounds.
Arun Yogiraj, a sculptor from Mysore, carved the idol. Yogiraj has also carved several famous statues, including the Adi Shankaracharya statue in Kedarnath and Subhash Chandra Bose statue in Delhi.
The auspicious moment for the consecration has been officially scheduled for January 22, 2024, at noon. The auspicious timing, known as Abhijeet Muhurat, has been carefully chosen to commemorate this historic occasion.
According to Ram Temple priest Ganeshwar Shastri Gramin, the consecration ceremony will begin at approximately 12.30 p.m., precisely during the auspicious Abhijeet Muhurat, and is expected to last 84 seconds. The meticulous selection of this timing reflects a commitment to ancient traditions and astrological principles.
A priest from Varanasi, Lakshmi Kant Dixit, will perform the main rituals of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22. From January 14 to January 22, Ayodhya will mark the Amrit Mahautsav.