More than a year after the “pran pratishtha” ceremony of Ram Lalla, the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is preparing for another event next month. This ceremony will celebrate Bhagwan Ram’s coronation as King, coinciding with the planned installation of the Ram Durbar (royal court) on the Mandir’s first floor later this month.
Preparations are in full swing for the ceremony, which will be a more modest event compared to the grand celebrations of January 22 last year, attended by over 8,000 people and led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The construction of the Mandir, which began in 2020 following the Supreme Court ruling and the formation of a supervision committee, is now nearing completion. The Mandir construction committee is currently chaired by Nripendra Misra, former principal secretary to the Prime Minister.
Misra recently stated that the Mandir complex is expected to be ready by the end of this month, with the work on the “parkota” or compound wall set to be finished by the end of the year. He also informed reporters that around 20,000 cubic feet of stone remain to be laid in the Mandir, and the construction is expected to be completed by April 15. Additionally, he mentioned that all statues, both inside and outside the rampart, will be installed by April 30.
Meanwhile, the 51-inch-tall murti of Ram Lalla, which portrays Bhagwan Ram as a toddler at his birthplace, was sculpted by Karnataka-based artist Arun Yogiraj. The Ram Durbar is being meticulously carved in Jaipur by a team of 20 skilled craftsmen, led by sculptor Prashant Pandey, using white Makrana marble.
At the time of the pran pratishtha ceremony last year, only the ground floor—housing the sanctum sanctorum—had been completed, while construction on the upper floors, the main spire, and other essential structures was still ongoing.
Statue of Saint Tulsidas to come up near Ram Mandir complex
A grand statue of Saint Tulsidas, the revered poet-saint who composed the Ramcharitmanas—the most celebrated retelling of the Ramayana—is also set to be installed near the Ram Mandir complex.
The Mandir, built in the traditional Nagara architectural style, spans 380 feet in length (east-west), 250 feet in width, and soars to a height of 161 feet. 392 intricately carved pillars support it, and it features 44 doors, according to official reports.
Around 20 acres surrounding the Ram Mandir complex will be landscaped and beautified to maintain harmony with the natural environment.
Meanwhile, the International Ramkatha Museum is taking shape roughly 4 km from the main Mandir site. This upcoming museum will offer visitors a rich, immersive experience—featuring a holographic projection of Bhagwan Ram, interactive storytelling from the Ramayana, and a dedicated section chronicling the 200-year-long Ram Mandir movement. Additionally, artefacts uncovered during archaeological excavations at the Mandir site will be curated and displayed for public viewing, offering deeper insight into Ayodhya’s ancient heritage.
