Digital prototype of the proposed Ram Mandir (L) and the construction works at the site (R) (TOI and Mint, respectively)
After years of legal battles, the centre of the Hindu religious pilgrimage, Ram Mandir is finally under construction. Building a Ram temple that would match ancient Hindu temples in grandeur and longevity is a tough task for the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust. More than 50 per cent of the construction work on the temple has been completed. It is likely to open for devotees on January 24 next year after the consecration of Ram Lalla idol, which will be a 10-day ritual starting January 14.
Other than the temple, the Ayodhya Development Authority will also build ‘Ram Chalit Manas’ a depiction of Bhagwan Ram’s life and journey.
On August 9, the Divisional Commissioner of Ayodhya, Gaurav Dayal, stated that in conjunction with the construction of the temple at Bhagwan Ram’s birthplace, the current administration of Ayodhya is undertaking various development projects. These projects are initiated in order to facilitate the multitude of pilgrims expected to visit Ayodhya starting January 2024.
The officer informed that, near Sarayu River, in the vicinity of Guptar Ghat in Ayodhya, a sprawling area of over 75 acres will be developed by the Ayodhya Development Authority as the ‘Shri Ram Chalit Manas’. This will work as an experience Center with world-class amenities to make the pilgrimage memorable.
A Varanasi-based agency “Abhiyantran” is looking into the project, notably, the investment will come from private agencies, not the authority itself. This experience center will not only showcase Bhagwa Ram’s life and his birthplace, Ayodhya, but also the culture and heritage of Uttar Pradesh. It will feature a tent city with 100 tents, along with a Ram Darbar, religious market, toilet blocks, landscape zones, open seating, Sita’s kitchen, Ram’s water tomb, folk dance stage, music stage, Ram Leela entertainment zone, seating plaza, sand seating, fire show stage, experience center, Kalagram, Ram Jaap Path, meditation cave, yoga area, guest room, open-air theatre, healing garden, market, food court, multi-purpose hall, horse riding/indoor sports area, and other amenities. Water sports facilities will also be developed.
The Commissioner mentioned that this construction will be entirely temporary, with 16 by 16 feet tents and medical facilities placed at a reasonable distance, as well as bio-digestive toilets every 50 meters.
Other than this, the Ram Path is also being developed, and the road will be one of three leading to the Ram Mandir.
Those engaged in the works say the route would be heavily decked with art pieces and murals depicting key sequences from the Ramayana. “Ram Path would be developed as Shri Ram heritage walk. It’s going to be the most beautiful stretch that would be heavily decked with high grade murals that would be placed at around 100 places along the route,” said Gaurav Dayal, Divisional Commissioner, Ayodhya.
“UP Government is in touch with various mural artists who would carve out the life-size murals made of iron, bronze and other metals,” a senior government official said.
He added that one of the murals will visually narrate the story of Bhagwan Ram and his brother Lakshman meeting Shabri and partaking ber tasted by her to ensure she offered only sweet ones to them. Another mural would reportedly highlight the defeat of Ravana at the hands of Bhagwan Ram.
He further said the walkway would be world-class and would be equipped with amenities for visitors. “Be it illumination, green cover, footpaths, attractive benches, plantation of floral plants along the stretch, all such work would be done in order to make the stretch one of the most beautiful stretches of Uttar Pradesh,” he added.
A report by India Today says that the Ram temple will be partly ready by late 2023, i.e., the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Ram will be ready by December 2023. The sanctum sanctorum will be opened for the devotees after Makar Sankranti in January 2024.
The idol of Ramlala will be 51 inches, which will be installed on the platform built in the sanctum sanctorum.
Sources in the temple trust said the size of the Ram temple complex has been raised to 110 acres compared to the 67 acre plot originally acquired by the trust. This has been done to incorporate the various religious and vaastu elements. The entire Ram temple complex in UP’s Ayodhya is being built at an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crore.
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