Ram Mandir: The Pride of Ayodhya

The big moment we’ve all been waiting for is almost here! The all-new Ayodhya Ram Mandir is all set for its grand opening on January 22, 2024. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and various VVPIs of the country will lead the ceremony.

We can take part in the grand opening of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir from the comfort of our home through a live broadcast, as the temple opens its doors to the public on January 23, 2024.

With the grand opening, Ayodhya will host a 48-day festival known as Mandala Utsava. This event will take place every day from January 23, 2024 to March 10, 2024 featuring poojas (prayer) and abhisheka (ritual bathing).

List of events to be held during the new Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration Ceremony

DATES	EVENTS
January 17	Lord Rama idol will be carried in a procession to the Sarayu River for cleaning before being brought to the Ram Mandir’s “Moola Sthana.”
January 18	“Jaladhivasa” Ceremony (Keeping the idol of Lord Rama in water for some time)
January 19	“Dhanyadhivasa” Ceremony (Idol of Lord Rama will be placed in wheat grains)
January 20	“Shayyadhivasa” Ceremony (Pre installation ritual)
January 21	Preparations for the Prana Pratishthe (Concecration Ceremony)
January 22	Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Ram Mandir.
January 23 – March 10	48 days festival, Mandala Utsava beginsFrom January 23, entry of public allowed

Architecture of Ram Mandir

The design of the Ram Mandir is prepared by the Sompura family. The Sompura family is well-known for their temple architecture across India and they have previously designed the well-known temples in the past like Somnath temple, Akshardham temple and others.

The chief architect of the Ram Mandir is Chandrakant Sompura.

Some key Architecture highlights of Ram Mandir

• The width of the temple stairs is 16 feet.
• The structure will have a total 366 columns.
• Each column will have 16 idols including ten Dashavataras, the twelve incarnations of the goddess Saraswati, the 64 Chausath Yoginis, and the avatars of Shiva.  
• Height of the Temple has been increased from 141 feet to 161 feet.
• There will be 4 more temples smaller in size that will surround the main structure.
• The structure will have a total 360 pillars.

The statue of Lord Ram will sit on an eight-foot-tall, gold-plated marble seat inside the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Beside the new idol of Lord Ram at the new Ayodhya Ram Mandir will be the older idol of Ram Lalla, which is currently being worshiped.

This 235-foot-wide, 360-foot-long, and 161-foot-tall temple will rank as the third-largest Hindu temple in the world, once finished.

Main Structure

Following the Nagara style and Vastu Shastra principles, the temple will have an impressive doorway known as a Gopuram. There will be artwork on the wall that will reflect the life of Lord Rama. 

Raised on a platform, the main building will have 3- floors and a central Garbhagriha that will allow sunlight to illuminate the idol of Ram Lalla. 

There will be 5 mandaps inside the temple: two Prarthana Mandaps, Keertan Mandap, Nritya Mandap, and Rang Mandap, forming open areas. The mandaps are to be decorated with shikhara. The tallest Shikhara will be above the Garbhagriha. 

The Hindu tradition is clearly seen in the architectural style of Ram Mandir, which is created using unique bricks with the words “Jai Shree Ram” on them.

Area and Shape

The architecture of Ram Mandir, which has a structure with a circular perimeter and an octagonal sanctum sanctorum, is in accordance with holy texts devoted to Vishnu. 

Ram Mandir will be built on 10 acres, and the remaining 57 acres will be developed as a temple complex. It will include a prayer hall, a lecture hall, an educational center, a museum, and a cafeteria.

Stones used for Ayodhya Ram Mandir Idols

In order to create idols for the Ram Temple at Ayodhya, two huge stones known as the Shaligram stones were brought from Nepal to Ayodhya through Gandaki river. 

About 30 tonnes is the weight of one stone, and 14–15 tonnes is the weight of the other. The purpose of these stones is to be utilized in the temple to create idols of Lord Ram and Janaki. These stones are 400 and 60 million-years-old respectively.

The use of the Shaligram stone symbolizes the relationship between the two gods, as it is believed that Lord Ram is the reincarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Budget and Funding

The Larsen and Toubro group (L&T Group) is constructing Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, and is expected to cost over Rs 18,000 crore.

The mandir received significant financial support, starting with President Ram Nath Kovind’s donation of ₹501,000 on January 15, 2021. Following the president’s lead, other notable leaders and personalities nationwide joined the cause.

A large sum of ₹5,000 crore had been raised through donations by April 2021. In addition to financial gifts, individuals from all over India donated around 24 kg of silver and 33 kg of gold bricks for the temple. A kiln in Uttar Pradesh is also expected to provide about 51,000 bricks bearing the name of Lord Sri Ram.

Donations ranging from Rs 10 to several lakhs were made by citizens from all over the nation, showing their full support for building this enormous temple.

Interesting facts of Ram Mandir

• For the Ram Mandir, a 2,100-kg bell is being shipped from Etah, a well-known bell-making location in India. The cost of the six feet high and five feet wide bell is Rs 21 lakh with the goal of spreading the “voice of sanatan Hinduism” throughout the world.
• The famous Mumbai-based artist Vasudeo Kamath’s sketch served as the model for the creation of the Ram Lalla idol.
• Stones from the banshi mountains in Rajasthan will be used for the construction of the temple.
• More than two lakh bricks, inscribed with “Sri Ram” in multiple languages from all over the nation, were gathered more than thirty years ago that will form the foundation of the  temple.
• Foundation of the Ram Mandir to be built with soil from more than 2000 pilgrimage sites and water from more than 100 rivers.
• To preserve the history of the temple for the next centuries, a time capsule will be buried 2,000 feet below the surface of the temple construction site.

Timeline: Ayodhya Ram Mandir

Year	Event
1528	During the rule of Mughal Emperor Babul, Babri Masjid was built. Many believe it was built on top of Ram Janambhoomi, the site known as the birthplace of Hindu god Rama.
1853	The first instance of conflict over the land between religious communities happened.
1859	British officials intervened and built a fence to divide the houses of worship. Muslims were to utilize the inner court, Hindus the outside court.
1885	Mahant Raghubir Das asks the Faizabad district court to be allowed to construct a canopy over the mosque’s building. Court rejects it.
1949	Ram Idol found inside the mosque, growing conflict within the community.
1950	Hindus filed suits to perform puja and place idols inside the structure in Faizabad Civil Court.
1961	UP Sunni Waqf board files suit against forceful occupation of the Babri Mosque and placing of idols within it.
1984	Ram Janmabhoomi movement formed to build a temple.
1986	District court orders the government to open the sites for Hindu worshippers, puja and darshan. Babri Masjid Action Committee set up the protesters.
1989	VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) laid the temple’s foundation.
1990	On September 25, LK Advani launches a Rath Yatra from Somnath (Gujrat) to Ayodhya (UP) to generate support for the movement.
1992	Babri Masjid was demolished by Karsevaks of VHP and BJP on December 6.
1992	On December 16, Liberhan Commission was set up by the government to look into circumstances that led to demolition of Babri Masjid.
2009	After 17 years on June 30, the Liberhan Commission was submitted.
2010	On September 30, Allahabad High Court delivers judgment on Ayodhya Dispute land; to be divided in 3 parts, one-third goes to Ram Lalla, one-third to Nirmohi Akhara and one-third to UP Sunni Waqf board.
2011	(May 9) SC stays Allahabad High Court order.
2017	Former Chief Justice Khehar suggests an out of court settlement among all parties.
2019	On August 6, the 5-judge Constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, of the Supreme Court started final hearing on the case.
2019	On November 9, SC delivered a landmark judgment. It accepts Ayodhya was the birthplace of Lord Rama and that Ram Mandir would be built at the disputed location. The government-established Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust was given 2.77 acres of the disputed property by the court to construct the temple. It also said that a 5-acre alternative land for the construction of a mosque would be offered to the Sunni Waqf Board, for the construction of a new Mosque in Dhannipur village 22km from Ayodhya.
2020	On August 5, PM Narendra Modi performs Bhoomi Pujan and lays the foundation stone.
2024	The official opening of Ram Mandir is scheduled for January 22, 2024.

How to reach

By Airport: The nearest airport to Ayodhya is Faizabad Airport, at a distance of 8 km. However, the nearest major airport from Ayodhya is Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport, (Lucknow Airport) at a distance of around 150 km. You could hire a cab to reach Ayodhya from Lucknow airport which could cost you about INR. People can also reach from Gorakhpur, Prayagraj and Varanasi Airports

By Railway: The distance between Ayodhya Ram Mandir to Ayodhya Junction is 800 m and it takes around 3 min to reach there.

The distance between Ayodhya Ram Mandir to Faizabad railway station (Ayodhya Cantt) is 9 km and it takes almost 25 min to reach there.

By Bus: The distance between Ayodhya Ram Mandir to Ayodhya bus station is 2.3 km and it takes around 15 min to reach there.

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