Preparations are currently in progress for the highly anticipated mega Ram Mandir 'Pran Pratishtha' (consecration) ceremony scheduled for January 22 in Ayodhya. The event, set to mark the inauguration of the Ram temple, will have Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the chief guest. The temple trust anticipates the attendance of over 7,000 individuals, including politicians, celebrities, industrialists, saints, and representatives from around 100 countries.
The consecration ceremony will feature the installation of the Ram Lalla idol, intricately carved by Karnataka's renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj, in the new temple. Simultaneously, the current idol of Lord Ram, revered for the past 70 years, will find a place in the sanctum sanctorum of the new temple.
The auspicious Pran Pratishtha of Lord Ram is scheduled for Paush Shukla Kurma Dwadashi in Vikram Samvat 2080, which falls on January 22. The ceremony's main program will unfold during the 'Abhijeet Muhurta' in the afternoon. Leading up to this, pre-Pran Pratistha rituals will commence on January 16 and continue until January 21.
A series of events are planned as part of the pre-ceremony schedule, including Prayaschita, Karmakuti Poojan, Parisar Pravesh of the Murti, Teerth Poojan, Jal Yatra, Gandhadhivas, Aushadhadhivas, Kesaradhivas, Ghritadhivas, Dhanyadhivas, Sharkaradhivas, Phaladhivas, Pushpadhivas, and Madhyadhivas.
The Pran Pratistha ceremony will adhere to rituals performed by 121 Acharyas, overseeing various aspects of the consecration. Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid will manage the supervision, coordination, anchoring, and direction of proceedings, with Lakshmi Kant Dixit of Kashi serving as the principal Acharya.
Distinguished guests expected at the ceremony include PM Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, UP Governor Anandiben Patel, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, along with renowned Indian cricketers such as Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and others. Bollywood celebrities, including Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth, Madhuri Dixit, Anupam Kher, Akshay Kumar, Ranbir Kapoor, and Alia Bhatt, have been invited. Notably, invitations have not been extended to certain actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Sanjay Dutt, among others.
Symbolic offerings, including water, soil, gold, silver, gems, clothing, jewelry, large bells, drums, and aromatic items, are continuously being presented by people from different states. Significant gifts, including Bhaars from Maa Janaki's maternal homes at Janakpur in Nepal and Sitamarhi in Bihar, have also arrived in Ayodhya.
