Over a year after the grand pran pratishtha of Ram Lalla at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, another sacred consecration ceremony is scheduled for May 2025. This upcoming event will mark Lord Ram’s coronation as King, following the installation of the Ram Durbar (royal court) on the temple’s first floor later this month.
Low-Key Ceremony, But Significant
Sources familiar with the preparations have indicated that this ceremony will be more modest compared to the elaborate January 22, 2024 event, which was attended by over 8,000 people, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. That event marked the official placement of the idol of Ram Lalla, depicted as a child, sculpted by renowned Karnataka artist Arun Yogiraj.
Nearing Completion of Temple Construction
This forthcoming ceremony will also symbolise the near completion of the temple construction, which began in 2020 following the Supreme Court’s landmark verdict. The Temple Construction Committee, currently led by Nripendra Misra, former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, has been overseeing the entire project.
Misra recently shared updates stating that the temple structure will be fully completed by April 15, 2025. By April 30, nearly all statues inside and around the temple complex will be installed, finalising much of the interior and exterior design. Work on the “parkota” (the temple’s protective boundary wall) is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Approximately 20,000 cubic feet of stone remains to be placed within the temple complex, and the progress so far stands at 90 per cent completion.
Grand Features of the Ram Temple
The Ram Temple has been built in the traditional Nagara architectural style. It stretches 380 feet in length (east-west), 250 feet in width, and rises to a height of 161 feet. The structure is supported by 392 intricately carved pillars and 44 doors. The temple premises will include around 20 acres of landscaped land, designed to harmonise with the natural surroundings.
One of the main highlights of this phase is the installation of the Ram Durbar, crafted by a team of 20 skilled artisans from Jaipur, under the leadership of sculptor Prashant Pandey. The figures are being carved in elegant white Makrana marble, the same type used in several historic Indian monuments.
Additionally, a towering statue of Saint Tulsidas, the revered author of the Ramcharitmanas, is being installed to honour his contribution to spreading the story of Lord Ram.
Adding to the spiritual and cultural significance of the temple is the International Ramkatha Museum, currently under development about 4 km from the temple site. This museum will offer an immersive journey through the Ramayana, featuring a holographic depiction of Lord Ram, exhibits from archaeological excavations, and a detailed chronicle of the 200-year-long Ram Temple movement.
The upcoming consecration ceremony in May 2025 will not only complete a vital chapter in the Ram Temple’s history but also mark the realisation of a long-awaited spiritual and national dream. With the temple nearing completion and cultural projects like the Ramkatha Museum on the horizon, Ayodhya is poised to become a prominent global hub of devotion, heritage, and faith.
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