Over a year after the grand consecration of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, preparations are underway for another significant ceremony at the Ram Temple next month. This upcoming event will mark the installation of the Ram Darbar, portraying Lord Ram in his royal form, and symbolically affirm his stature as the King. Unlike the elaborate event on January 22, 2024, attended by over 8,000 people and presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this ceremony is expected to be more modest in scale, though spiritually significant.
Temple construction enters final phase
The ceremony will coincide with the final stages of temple construction, a project that began in 2020 after the Supreme Court’s verdict allowed the building of the temple and formation of a construction committee. That committee, led by Nripendra Misra, former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, has confirmed that the temple complex will be completed by the end of April. About 20,000 cubic feet of stone is yet to be placed in the structure, with work on the outer compound wall, or “parkota,” expected to be finished by year-end. All statues, both within and outside the temple complex, are planned to be installed between March 25 and April 15.
Ram Darbar to reflect divine sovereignty
The idol of Ram Lalla, which was installed in the sanctum last year, was sculpted by artist Arun Yogiraj from Karnataka. The upcoming Ram Darbar is being crafted in white Makrana marble by a 20-member team led by sculptor Prashant Pandey in Jaipur. It will depict Lord Ram along with Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman in a traditional courtly setting. The installation of this ensemble will mark a symbolic culmination of the temple’s divine and royal narrative.
Additionally, a grand statue of saint Tulsidas, the author of the Ramcharitmanas, is also being placed within the temple premises. Around 20 acres of surrounding land are being developed and landscaped to reflect harmony with nature. The temple has been constructed in the classical Nagara style, measuring 380 feet in length, 250 feet in width, and 161 feet in height, supported by 392 intricately carved pillars and 44 massive doors. The main spiral and upper floors, previously incomplete during the Ram Lalla consecration, are now nearly finished, bringing the project to about 90% completion.
