When will the consecration ceremony happen?
The consecration ceremony, or prana pratishtha, of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh (UP), will take place on 22nd January 2024. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be present and take part in the ceremony.
The prana pratishtha, or consecration, is the ceremony by which the temple’s main idol, in this case Lord Ram, is installed inside the temple. Many people, including priests, politicians, sports stars, and actors, are invited to attend the event.
What are some features of the Ram Mandir?
The Ayodhya Ram Mandir is 380 feet long from east to west, 250 feet wide, and 161 feet high. It's a three-story temple with 392 pillars and 44 entrances. Each floor is 20 feet tall, and the temple will have golden doors. The pillars and walls have statues of deities, gods, and goddesses. There will be ramps and lifts for disabled and elderly people.
The temple complex has a sewage treatment plant, a water treatment plant, and a power station. The Mandir complex is also being built using indigenous technology. There will be facilities for 25,000 pilgrims.
Construction is set to finish in December 2024. Currently, the ground floor is completed. The temple has been built to withstand strong earthquakes and floods. It is also expected to require no repairs for 1,000 years.
Many people are excitedly waiting for the ceremony. However, two out of four Shankaracharyas have spoken out against the consecration ceremony.
What did the Shankaracharyas say?
One Shankaracharya thinks it's not right to put Shri Ram's deity in an unfinished temple. This goes against Hindu beliefs. Another Shankaracharya says the consecration ceremony is not being done correctly. But two other Shankaracharyas are happy and support the ceremony.
The Ram Mandir is believed to bring a lot of tourism to Uttar Pradesh after its inauguration.
