Bhubaneswar: Much-awaited Ayodhya Ram temple will be opened for devotees on the occasion of Makar Sankranti in January 2024 after the installation of Lord Ram’s idol in the sanctum sanctorum.
The temple will be earthquake-resistant and sturdy enough to last over 1,000 years, general secretary of Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Champat Rai told media.
Almost 50% of the construction work has been completed. The temple, which will have 392 pillars and 12 doors, is being constructed without using iron bars. Instead of iron, copper chips are being used to join stones
The sanctum sanctorum will have 160 pillars while the first floor will have 82. The complete structure will have 12 entry gates made of teak wood while a majestic main entrance, the ‘Singh Dwar’, on the first floor will lead to the ‘dance’, ‘colour’, and ‘esoteric’ towers.
The dimension of the main temple will be 350×250 ft. It is being built at a cost of Rs 1,800 crore, said Rai.
A study is being done to assess the impact of the footfall on the five km area around the temple after it is opened. “We are satisfied with the speed and the quality of the work being done,” a TOI report quoted Rai as saying.
Granite stones, brought from Rajasthan, are being used in the construction of the temple.
Project manager Jagdish Aphale said the sanctum sanctorum has been constructed in a way that sun rays fall on Ram Lalla’s statue on Ram Navami.
It is pertinent to mention here that recently over 17 lakh diyas were lit on the banks of Saryu river as crackers and lasers lit up the Ayodhya sky. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Deepotsav celebrations and said Lord Ram is in Ayodhya’s DNA.
He witnessed a laser show, and fireworks showcased for setting Guinness World Record by volunteers from Uttar Pradesh’s Avadh University. As the representatives of the Guinness Book of World Records announced the establishment of the record, the entire city of Ayodhya erupted with the chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram.’
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed the groundbreaking ceremony on August 5, 2020. There will also be temples for the gods Surya, Ganesha, Shiva, Durga, Vishnu, and Brahma.
