The construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya is going on at a fast pace as almost 50 per cent of the construction has been completed and the sanctum sanctorum and the first floor of the temple will be ready by December 2023, a trust official disclosed.
Showing the ongoing construction work on the temple premises, general secretary of Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Champat Rai, said that Lord Ram would be placed in the sanctum sanctorum by January 2024.
Significantly, on August 5, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Since then, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been consistently monitoring the progress of the construction of the temple by collecting monthly reports and visiting the construction site, apart from having a darshan of Ram Lalla whenever he is on a tour to Ayodhya.
Champat Rai said that special attention would be paid to the security of the temple and the visitors in view of instructions of the prime minister.
“Besides, a plan will be prepared to deal with the tourist pressure,” he said.
Rai said that the size of the main temple was 350x250 feet and the ground floor work would be completed by December 2023.
He added that by 2024, people could expect to have a darshan of Ram Lalla at the temple.
At present work is underway in the octagonal sanctum sanctorum with 500 huge stones having been laid.
According to Rai, there will be 12 gates made of teak wood at the Ram temple. Besides, there will be 160 pillars on the first floor of the temple and about 82 pillars on the second floor. Its work is expected to be completed by December 2023. Pran pratishthan (consecration) of the idol of Lord Ram is expected to be performed on the occasion of Makar Sankranti in 2024.
Rai said that carved stones were being brought from Pindwara town of Sirohi district in Rajasthan as well as from workshops. According to him, stones used to come from Bharatpur since the time of the temple movement while carvings have been done in Sompura for a long time.
Jagdish Aapde, the project manager of the temple construction work, said that when the prime minister had asked about the use of granite stones during the inspection, we told him that even a drop of water would not be absorbed by the granite. Due to this there would be no damage to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple for a thousand years. On this, the prime minister said that if this temple was going to last for a thousand years, then this was the best work done.
Jagdish Aapde said that the prime minister wanted the structure of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple to be such that the rays of the sun fell directly on Ram Lalla on the day of Ram Navami and he had said that he would come to watch this divine spectacle.
“So, we are making preparations accordingly. Through CSI, we have designed it both mechanically and architecturally. It will be a matter of pride for us”, he remarked.
The project manager said that the prime minister had assured that he would come here again within two years and take stock of the works. However, a report of the progress of construction is sent every month to the Yogi government. Besides, the chief minister visits Ayodhya from time to time to inspect the progress in construction, he added.
The Ram temple is set to be grand and give the visitors a divine experience. The main entrance of the temple will be 'Singh Dwar'. Granite stones are being used in the temple area of 2.77 acres. There will be 392 pillars in the temple, including 160 pillars in the sanctum sanctorum, 132 pillars on the first floor and 82 pillars on the second floor. The temple is being built in a way that it will not be impacted by earthquakes
Bars are not being used in the construction of the temple, instead stones are being connected with copper leaves to strengthen the temple building. The temple premises will feature five temples including Panchdev temple as well as Surya Dev temple, Vishnu Devta temple. The Singh Dwar will be constructed on the front of the first floor, leading to the dance, colour and esoteric pavilions.