Ram Mandir is about faith, it doesn't matter what a few people say: Historian Yatinder Mishra

The temple was built at an estimated cost of Rs 1,800 crore.

The Ram Mandir is about individual faith and India's tradition, said historian and Ram Idol jewellery designer Yatinder Mishra, adding that it does not matter what a few people say.

Speaking at Network 18's Rising Bharat Summit on March 19 in New Delhi, Mishra was responding to a question on how a few people said that a big deal should not be made out of the construction of the mandir.

Mishra further said that the Ram Mandir architecture represents a mix of religion and spirituality.

The Ram temple in Ayodhya was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22. Constructed in the traditional Nagara style, the temple is built on the 2.77 acres of disputed land acknowledged by the Supreme Court as the birthplace of Lord Ram.

The architect of the temple, Ashish Sompura, who spoke on the same panel with Mishra, said around 5,000 to 6,000 workers were involved in the construction of Ram Mandir.

On allegations that political motivation influenced the choice made on the idol, Mishra said, "I don't think there was any political pressure around this."

The black stone idol, which was installed in Ayodhya Ram Mandir, is a five-year-old depiction of Lord Ram.

Made by Mysuru sculptor Arun Yogiraj, the statue is 51 inches tall and weighs 1.5 tonnes. The statue has been made with special rocks, known as Shaligrams, brought from Nepal. Estimated to be almost 60 million years old, these rocks are significant in Hindu religious customs.