'Ram is faith of India, Ram is foundation of India', PM Modi inaugurates Ram Temple 

A book on Ayodhya, a metal 'diya', a special 'mala' and a scarf bearing the name of Lord Ram are among the items that have been gifted to the guests who attended the consecration ceremony at the temple.

The gifts were in a bag that had a striking graphic image of the new temple and of Lord Ram in a very young avatar.

The new idol of Ram Lalla was consecrated at the newly constructed temple here amid grand celebrations in the town, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi participating in the rituals.

While Modi consecrated the new Ram idol in Ayodhya West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is taking out an all-faith harmony rally in Kolkata

Former litigant in the Ayodhya land dispute case, Iqbal Ansari was among the many invitees for Ram temple 'Pran Pratishtha' today.

-This is a temple of national consciousness in the form of Ram. Ram is the faith of India, Ram is the foundation of India. Ram is the idea of India, Ram is the law of India...When Ram is honoured, its effect does not last for years or centuries, its effect is for thousands of years...

-I got the opportunity to travel from Sagar to Saryu. From Sagar to Saryu, the same festive spirit of Ram's name is visible everywhere...

-The devotees of Prabhu Ram, in every corner of the country and the world, are deeply feeling this...This moment is divine, this moment is the holiest of all...

-In Treta period, the separation lasted only for 14 years...In this era, Ayodhya and the countrymen have endured hundreds of years of separation...

-The legal battle over the existence of Lord Ram went on for decades. I would like to express my gratitude to the judiciary of India for doing justice...

-I also apologise to Lord Shri Ram. There must be something lacking in our effort, sacrifice and penance that we could not do this work for so many centuries. 

-The sunrise of 22nd January has brought a wonderful glow. January 22, 2024, is not a date written on the calendar. It is the origin of a new time cycle...

-Our Ram has come today... Ram Lalla will not stay in a tent now. He will stay in the grand temple...

Embassy of India in México informed that on the city of Queretaro in Mexico got the first Lord Ram temple.

Queretaro also hosts the first Lord Hanuman temple in Mexico. The ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony was performed by an American Priest with Mexican hosts & idols brought from India.

New Ram Lalla idol which was consecrated by PM Narendra Modi in the Sanctum Sanctorum will be the 'achal'- immovable idol.

Old 9-inch tall idol will also be placed in Garbhgriha in front of the 51-inch idol. It will be the 'chal'-movable idol. 

The old idol will be used as 'utsav' idol - to be used in festivals. 

5-year-old 'Ram Lalla'
The idol is crafted in the form of a 5-year-old child, using a dark-coloured stone and stands at a height of 51 inches.

Who carved it?
Karnataka's Arun Yogiraj sculpted the Ram Lalla idol which is slated for installation in the Ayodhya Ram temple

When did the rituals begin?
Worship rituals will begin on January 16, culminating in its installation in the Garb Griha (sanctum sanctorum) on January 18.

Specially designed
Idol's dimensions have been designed with the guidance of scientists to ensure that on Ram Navami, sunlight directly falls on Ram's forehead at noon.

How was the idol selected?
Final idol was selected from 3 by voting by Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust members.

Idol Characteristics
The Ram Lalla idol is adorned with a bow and arrow. Crafted by three selected artisans, idols are made of Shyam Shila stone and white marble.

Durability of idol
Designed for longevity, these idols are expected to endure for the next 1,000 years without requiring restoration

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is also inside Garbhgriha, the Sanctum Sanctorum. He is sitting beside Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will lead the rituals for the consecration ceremony.

Apart from him, UP CM Yogi Adityanath and UP governor Anandiben Patel is also inside the Grabhgriha where the new 51-inch idol will be consecrated. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Ayodhya for the consecration ceremony which will begin at 12.20 pm. 

The Prime Minister who is expected to stay for four hours in Ayodhya landed at the Maharshi Valmiki International Airport.

Actors like Rajnikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal arrived in Ayodhya.

Ambani family and sports personalities like Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar have also arrived for the ceremony which begins at 12.20 pm. 

The BJP is facing backlash from top Sanatan Dharma spiritual leaders - the Shankaracharyas who head the different Hindu mathas (monastries).

Who are the four Shankaracharyas?

Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswati of Purvaamnaya Govardhanmath Puri Peeth 
Sri Bharati Tirtha, Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Karnataka
Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand, Jyotir Math, Uttarakhand
Shankaracharya Sadanand Saraswati, Dwarka Shardapeeth 

What is their significance in Hinduism?

Shankaracharyas are considered the 'supreme authority' in Hinduism especially for interpreting Hindu scriptures.

The heads of four mutts are known for their knowledge of the Vedas and their ability to interpret them.

What have they said?

Nischalanda Saraswati, the Puri Shankaracharya, had said that all four Shankaracharyas will not be attending the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. 

He added that he is “if Modi will inaugurate the temple, he will touch the idol, then what am I supposed to do? Stand and clap?”

Declining the invitation to the inauguration of the temple and expressing how the consecration of a half-constructed temple flouted the scriptures, he said that political intervention in spiritual domains was not preferable and that even the Constitution was against it. 

A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court against an order of Tamil Nadu government which allegedly bans live telecast of the 'Pran Prathishta' of Ram in Ayodhya across the State.

The plea which will be heard today itself states that the government has also banned all kinds of poojas, Archana and Annadanam (poor feeding) bhajans on the occasion and such arbitrary exercise of power by the State government (through police officials) violates fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

In 1950-- Nirmohi Akhara, a powerful hermetic sect, moved court seeking right to worship in the Babri mosque, thus began lengthy court proceedings in the Ayodhya land dispute case that ended with Supreme Court ruling in favour of Ram Lalla. Editorji turns back the clock to detail how the case unfolded in decades that followed the appearance or placement of Lord Ram's idol in the Mughal mosque on a December night in 1949.

BJP veteran LK Advani who was a front figure in the Ram Janambhoomi - Babri Masjid dispute is reportedly not attending the consecration ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya. 

The 96-yer-old politician played a pivotal role in the Ram Mandir movement when he launched the Rath Yatra in 1990. It began from Somnath in Gujarat and had to be suspended after Lalu Prasad's government ordered his arrest in Bihar.

2 years later on 6th December 1992 karsevaks in huge numbers demolished the 16th-century mosque.

1528

Babri Masjid was built by Mir Baqi, commander of the Mughal emperor Babur. Many claim the mosque site is the birthplace of Ram

1859

1853 recorded the first instance of religious violence near the site. In 1859, British officials intervened and erected a fence to separate the places of worship. The inner court was to be used by Muslims and the outer court by Hindus.


1885

Mahant Raghubir Das files plea in Faizabad district court seeking permission to build a canopy outside Babri Masjid structure. Court rejects plea.

December 22, 1949

Idols of Ram Lalla placed in the Mosque. Gopal Visharad, Paramahansa Ramachandra Das, Nirmohi Akhara, UP Sunni Waqf Board file suits in court.

February 1, 1986

Local court orders govt to open site for Hindu worshippers. 3 years later 'Ram lalla Virajman' became a litigant, represented by 'next friend' Deoki Nandan Agarwala.

December 6, 1992

BJP leader LK Advani launched Rath Yatra from Somnath in Gujarat in 1990 and 2 years later Babri Masjid was demolished by karsevaks.

April 3, 1993

Petitions filed against ‘Acquisition of Certain Area at Ayodhya Act’ which was passed by Centre. Hearing about who owns the site began in 2002.

September 30, 2010

Allahabad High Court rules 3-way division of disputed area between Sunni Waqf Board, Nirmohi Akhara & Ram Lalla. Verdict was stayed by SC in 2011.

January 8, 2019

SC set up a 5-judge Constitution Bench to hear the case headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and comprising of 4 other judges.

January 29, 2019

Centre moves SC asking return of '67-acre acquired land around disputed site to original owners'. By Oct 16, SC reserved its order after 2 month-long hearing.

November 9, 2019

SC allows construction of Ram temple at the disputed site and directs the Centre to allot an alternative 5-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for mosque.

Aug 5, 2020

PM Narendra Modi lays the foundation stone of the proposed Ram temple at Ayodhya where the consecration ceremony will happen on January 22, 2024.

121 priests led by Acharya Laxmikant Dixit will lead the consecration ceremony in the presence of Narendra Modi who is expected to arrive in Ayodhya at 10.30 AM. 

Guests will be taken for 'Darshan' of Ram Lalla that will continue till evening. 

The city will also celebrate 'Deepawali' in the evening by lighting a record number of diyas to mark 'the arrival of Ram'.

-The priests will perform the Morning puja 
-Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla in ‘Mrigashira Nakshatra’.
-'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony which will begin at at 12:20 pm, is expected to conclude by 1 pm.
-After the consecration the newly built temple will open for the public a day later.

What is the cost of building the temple?

Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, overseeing the construction of the temple, projected the cost at Rs. 1,800 crore, which is approximately $220 million

Who designed the Ram Temple?

The original design for Ram Mandir was devised in 1988 by Chandrakant Sompura whose family has contributed to Somnath temple's design as well.


Construction is for free?

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is building the temple free of charge. The temple is being built completely using stones, no iron or steel has been used.

Total Area

With a total length of 360 ft and width of 235 ft, the total area of Ram Mandir is 2.7 acres. With 3 floors, the height of the temple is 161 ft.

Architectural layout- Nagar style

The temple will have 160, 132 and 74 columns on the ground, first floor and second floor. The building will have 5 peaks and 12 gates.

The sacred foundation

The foundation has soil from 2,587 regions and water from 150 holy rivers.
Soil from Thailand has also been sent for the consecration ceremony.

From being left unattended to becoming a litigant, to now being a 'Utsav idol’ – an idol for festivals, here's the journey of the 9-inch idol that 'miraculously appeared’ on the night of December 22, 1949. 

Where to watch live?

The live coverage will begin at 7 am on Doordarshan. It will be live-streamed on its official YouTube channel as well.

Viewers can also tune into DD National. Nearly 40 cameras have been installed at various locations in Ayodhya and footage from locations such as Ram ki Paidi near Saryu ghat and the Jatayu statue at Kuber Tila will go live.

When does the ceremony begin?


The ceremony will be held between 12:20 pm-1 pm.

Who will perform the rituals?

Prime minister Narendra Modi will perform the rituals inside the temple's sanctum sanctorum (garbgriha) at around 12:30 pm. 

Who have been invited?

8000 guests have been invited for the event. The list includes politicians, industrialists, sportspersons, actors, etc.

Shobha yatras to bhandaras, Sundar Kand recitals to aartis...

Here's how Delhi's 70 assembly constituencies will mark the consecration ceremony at Ram temple in Ayodhya

Watch as the temple town of Ayodhya gets covered with tight, multi-layered security as the nation gears up for the consecration ceremony of the grand Ram Temple.

Apart from police and special forces, the Uttar Pradesh government has also used a multi-layer security cover in Ayodhya for the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple, with 10,000 CCTVs keeping an eye on the movement of people.

Police personnel in plain clothes have also been deployed at the venue.

The temple town of Ayodhya is all set to welcome Lord Ram.

The 'Pran Pratishtha' of the idol of new 51-inch tall Ram Lalla idol which represents the childhood form of Lord Ram will begin at 12.20 pm in PM Modi's presence.

Hi, good morning

stay tuned for all the live updates from Ayodhya where the Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Temple will happen today. 

The ceremony starts at 12:20 p.m. until then we will keep you updated about all the developments around the event.