The 22nd of January will witness one of the most iconic moments in India's contemporary history as the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, will be inaugurated in the presence of around 8,000 dignitaries.
Apart from those present at the inauguration, billions of Indians will be tuning in or following the inauguration with avid interest as the countdown for one of the most anticipated events begins.
Built at an estimated cost of Rs 1,800 crore, the journey towards the construction of the Ram Mandir was first initiated more than 15 years ago when Ashok Singhal, the former Vishwa Hindu Parishad president spoke to Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chief AM Naik about the temple construction in Ayodhya.
"L&T is a reputed firm. The plan to build the temple was discussed 15 years ago or so. At that time, Naik had promised to construct the temple," Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra general secretary Champat Rai told The Times of India.
The foundation stone for the Ram Mandir was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5, 2020. The Ram Mandir construction was being monitored by a trust- the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which was created by the central government.
The construction began after the Supreme Court verdict in 2019, where the apex court in a historic judgement handed over the dispute 2.77-acre site in Ayodhya to the Hindu side for the temple construction.
Chandrakant Sompura is the main architect of Sri Ram Mandir. He comes from a long line of temple architects and is the 15th generation of the family hailing from Ahmedabad.
The original design was devised in 1988 by the Sompura family of Ahmedabad. The Sompuras have contributed to the design of over 100 temples worldwide for at least 15 generations, including the Somnath temple.
Follow: Ayodhya Ram Mandir Live Updates: PM Modi to consecrate Ram Lalla in 84 seconds
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