Sanctum Sanctorum of Ram Temple to get ready by December 23

Ayodhya: Fifty percent of construction of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya has been completed and the sanctum sanctorum and the first floor of the temple will be ready by December 2023, an office-bearer of Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has said.

Showing the ongoing construction work on the temple premises, the General Secretary of the trust Champat Rai said that Lord Ram would be seated in the sanctum sanctorum at any rate by January 2024.

It may be noted that on August 5, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Ram temple in Ayodhya. Since then, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been consistently monitoring the progress in the construction of the temple by collecting monthly reports and visiting the construction site, apart from having a darshan of Ram Lalla whenever he is on a tour to Ayodhya.

Rai said that special attention will be paid to ensuring the security of the temple and the visitors in view of instructions of the PM. Besides, a plan will be prepared under the guidance of the PM and in consultation with the CM to deal with the pressure that the tourist influx will have on the population within the range of five kilometer meters from the temple on its completion.

Rai said that the size of the main temple is 350 feet into 250 feet and the ground floor work will be completed by December 2023. He said that by 2024, people can expect to have a darshan of Ram Lalla at the temple. At present work is underway in the octagonal sanctum with 500 huge stones having been laid here.

The General Secretary said that there will be a total of 12 gates made of teak wood at the Ram temple. "Besides, there will be a total of 160 pillars on the first floor of the temple and about 82 pillars on the second floor. Its work is expected to be completed by December 2023. Prana Pratishtha (consecration) of the idol of Lord Ram is expected to be held on the occasion of Makar Sankranti in 2024," he said.

Rai said that carved stones are being brought from Pindwara town of Sirohi district in Rajasthan as well as from workshops. He said that stones used to come from Bharatpur since the time of the temple movement while carvings have been done in Sompura for a long time.

Jagdish Aapde, the project manager of the temple construction work, said that when the PM had asked about the use of granite stones during the inspection. "We told him that even a drop of water would not be absorbed by the granite and due to this there will be no damage to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple for a thousand years. On this, the PM said that if this temple is going to last for 1,000 years, then this is the best work done," he said.

Jagdish Apde said that the PM wanted the structure of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple to be such that the rays of the sun fell directly on Ram Lalla on the day of Ram Navami and he had said that he would come to watch this divine spectacle. "So, we are making preparations accordingly. Through CSI, we have designed it both mechanically and architecturally. It will be a matter of pride for us," he said.

The project manager said that the PM has assured that he would come here again within two years and take stock of the works. However, a report of the progress of construction is sent every month to the Yogi government. Besides, the CM visits Ayodhya from time to time to inspect the progress in construction.

The Ram temple is set to be grand giving visitors a divine experience. The main entrance of the temple will be 'Singh Dwar'. Granite stones are being used in the temple area of ??2.77 acres. There will be 392 pillars in the temple, including 160 pillars in the sanctum sanctorum, 132 pillars on the first floor and 82 pillars on the second floor. The temple is being built in a way that it will not be impacted by earthquakes

Bars are not being used in the construction of the temple, instead stones are being connected with copper leaves to strengthen the temple building. The temple premises will feature five temples including Panchdev Temple as well as Surya Dev Temple, Vishnu Devta Temple. Singh Dwar will be constructed on the front of the first floor, leading to the dance, colour and esoteric pavilions. (UNI)