'Idol's Forehead Will Illuminate on Ram Navami', Shinde-led Shiv Sena Donates Rs 11 Cr: Latest on Ayodhya Mandir

In a grand opening and one of the most awaited events, the historic Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is all set to be inaugurated on January 22 with the idol of Lord Ram  being installed inside Mandir in the grand ceremony, with several festivities planned for that day.

The construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya kicked off on August 5, 2020 after the Supreme Court’s verdict in 2019.

Chief minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Saturday donated Rs 11 crore for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. A delegation of party leaders comprising party MP Shrikant Shinde, Maharashtra Industries minister Uday Samant, party spokespersons Naresh Mhaske, Ashish Kulkarni and party secretary Bhau Chowdhary met Shree Ram Mandir Teerth Khestra general secretary Champat Rai and handed over a cheque of Rs 11 crore, the party said.

’51 Inches Tall, Innocence of a Child,’ Ram Temple Trust Shares Details of Idol

The idol of Lord Shri Ram is 51 inches tall, weighs 1.5 tonnes & has the innocence of a child, Champat Rai, General Secretary of the Ram Temple Trust said.

Sharing further details on the idol, Rai said, “The length of Lord Shri Ram’s idol and the height of its installation have been designed in such a way on the advice of eminent space scientists of India that every year on Ram Navami, the ninth date of Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month, Lord Surya himself will anoint Shri Ram as sunrays will directly fall on his forehead at 12 noon making it shine.”

He also said that three sculptors made the idol of Lord Shri Ram separately, out of which one idol weighing 1.5 tonnes as well as with the length of 51 inches from foot to forehead was chosen with the inspiration of the Lord.

Describing the gentleness of the idol, he said that the idol made of dark colored stone not only has the divinity of Lord Vishnu and the radiance of a royal son but also has the innocence of a 5 year old child. The idol has been selected keeping in mind the softness of the face, look in the eyes, smile, body etc. He told that the head, crown and aura on the 51 inch high statue have also been finely crafted.

Two Muslim Women to Bring Ramjyoti from Ayodhya to Kashi

Ahead of the Pran-pratistha ceremony, two Muslim women, Nazneen Ansari and Najma Parvin, from Varanasi are scheduled to bring ‘Ramjyoti’ (Ram torch) from Ayodhya. As per a Times of India report, the two women, will take it through the Muslim localities to spread the message that Lord Ram is their ancestor, and the DNA of every Indian is the same. The women will leave for Ayodhya on Saturday.

Kashi’s Domraj Om Chaudhary and Mahant of Patalpuri Math Balak Das will flag their journey to Ayodhya, following which Mahant Shambhu Devacharya will hand over Ramjyoti to them in Ayodhya. The women will return with Ramjyoti on Sunday and the distribution of Ramjyoti will start on January 21, the TOI report further stated.

Regular Flight Operations to Commence at Ayodhya Airport From Saturday

Indigo will start daily connectivity between Delhi and Ayodhya in its first phase from Saturday.

From January 11, flights will connect Ahmedabad to Ayodhya. Flights between Mumbai and Ayodhya will be starting from January 15.

Air India Express have also announced connectivity to Ayodhya with Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata starting from January 16.

Improved air connectivity will help people arrive in Ayodhya from across the country and help local economy to further boom.

Congress President Kharge Receives Invitation For Pran-Pratistha Ceremony

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that he received an invitation for the ‘pranpratishtha’ ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Talking about the same, he said, “I will make a decision at the earliest that what is to be done.”

Pran Prastistha Event to be Live Telecasted for Prisoners

Ahead of the inaugural ceremony at Ayodhya, the Uttar Pradesh government has laid out clear directives asking the jail superintendents to make arrangements for the live telecast of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla’s idol. This move comes in order to ensure the participation of prisoners in this historic spiritual experience.

As per a Times of India report, the minister of state for prisons and home guards, Dharamveer Prajapati said that there is anticipation on a global level around the “Pran Pratishtha” ceremony. He also higlighted the importance of including prisoners in this occasion.

Iqbal Ansari, Ex-Babri Petitioner Receives Invitation for Pran-Pratistha Ceremony

One of the litigants in the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case, Iqbal Ansari, received an invitation to the Ram temple consecration ceremony on January 22 in Ayodhya. The invitation was delivered to him at his house located in Kotia Panjitola near the Ram Path on Friday.

Workers of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) handed him the invitation card, on behalf of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra.

‘Fills the Eyes With Tears and Mind With Emotions’, PM Modi on Ram Bhajan

Expressing his admiration for the devotional song ‘Ram Aayenge’ sung by Swasti Mehul, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X to share his appreciation for the singer. In the post he said, “If you listen to this hymn of Swasti ji once, it keeps resonating in the ears for a long time. Fills the eyes with tears and the mind with emotions.”

First Glimpse of Invites for Consecration Ceremony Out

Around 6,000 meticulously designed invitation cards by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust have been sent to invitees across the nation. A glimpse of these invitation cards for the consecration ceremony at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir has caught attention.

On its official X handle, DD News posted a video showcasing the invitation card, which garnered reactions across social media.

Consisting of several pages, the card lists imminent guests, the schedule and history of the temple.

As the visuals of these invitations circulated online, users chimed in with their remarks and they shared the clop as well.

Jhansi Man Arrested for Provocative Social Media Posts on Ram Temple

The Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) of the Uttar Pradesh Police arrested a 24-year-old man from Jhansi for allegedly making provocative social media posts related to the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

As per a press statement issued by the ATS, Zibran Makrani, a resident of Mukaryana under the City Police Station limits of Jhansi district, was arrested.

”Several objectionable posts and screen shots shared by him with other people provoking them to take revenge for the demolition of Babri mosque were also recovered from the phone of the accused,” the statement read.

Celebrities Invited for Ram Mandir Inauguration

Apart from PM Modi, the Ram temple trust’s list of 3,000 VVIP invitees include big names such as Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bacchan, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, actor Rajnikanth, actress Kangana Ranaut, actress Madhuri Dixit, actor Anupam Kher, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, cricketer Virat Kohli, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Yoga guru Ramdev, and industrialists Mukesh Ambani, Ratan Tata, and Gautam Adani.