Omkar Dattatray
Finally the long wait of five thousand years in general and for 32 years since the Ram Janamboomi movement in particular when the disputed structure was demolished by the Kar Saveks is over as on 22rd January 2024 Ram idol will be installed and consecration of the Ram temple is going to take place at the birth place of Bhagwan at Ayodhya .The people of India are eagerly and anxiously waiting for this historical event to take place when the Idol of Ram Lalla will be kept in the grand and magnificent Ram temple in Ayodhya .The construction of Ram temple and its inauguration at Ayodhya is in fact the triumph of impartial and independent judiciary and also for the patience of the people of the country who wanted a grand Ram temple at the birthplace of Lord Ram .The countrymen have heaved a sigh of relief as the inauguration of the grand Ram temple will take place on January22,2024 and all the arrangements and preparations have been made by the Ram Janambooni Nyas for the consecration and inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya .It is so good that the long pending and controversial issue of Ram temple has been solved forever by the apex court with a unanimous decision and as a result of the historical verdict the construction of grand temple is near completion and the judgment of supreme court has been welcomed by the vast majority of Indians irrespective of religious affiliations .The Idol of Ram Lalla which had been kept in a makeshift tent since December 6,1992 is ready to be taken to its rightful place in magnificent Ram temple constructed with the donations of the general public and Ram is about to leave his temporary tent and will return to its rightful place in grand temple at Ayodhya. In fact the struggle of the people will bear its fruit on January 18,2024 when the Ram Lalla will leave his tented accommodation and return to the grand temple at Ayodhya .It is really a historical and epoch making event for the people that Ram Lalla will be installed in the new temple constructed and it took many years to construct the Ram temple .The construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya ,India ,is near completion ,bringing joy to Hindu’s worldwide. The project which has been in the making for centuries ,has faced disputes and litigation was allocated land by Supreme Court judgment in 2019.The historical verdict by the top court has ended the centuries long dispute to the satisfaction of different parties as land was also ordered to be given to Muslims some kilometers away from the birthplace of Ram in Ajodhya. The temple is almost ready to be inaugurated by the Prime minister on 22rd January 2024 and the inauguration ceremony will be presided by the PM Narendra Modi .This much -anticipated religious edifice carries deep significance for millions and has been in the making for centuries .The project was marred by disputes, particularly with the Babrib Mosque ,but the landmark Supreme Court judgment in 2019 allocated the land to Ram Mandir trust ,empowering the government of India to oversee the temple formation .The government allocated the necessary budget ,paving way for the construction .The grand inauguration of the state of -the-art temple will take place on 22rd January 2024.This historic event will witness the honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ,presiding over the proceedings along with other distinguished delegates .Construction commenced shortly after the groundbreaking ceremony and the laying of the foundation stone on 5th of august 2020 ,which saw bricks engraved with ”Jai Shree Ram.”The inauguration ceremony will be graced by PM Modi. The Larsen &Tourbo group is responsible for building this monumental temple ,with an estimated cost of Rs 18,0000crore.The architectural design deeply rooted in Hindu traditions ,with special bricks bearing the inscription Jai Shree Ram ”being used in the temple’s construction .Ram Mandir Ayodhya’s budget for 2024 stands at a staggering Rs 18,0000 crore ,with the VHP playing a pivotal role in collecting donations for the construction following the Supreme Court’s decision. Ram Lalla Virajman (existing Ram idol) kept in the makeshift Ram temple in Ayodhya is likely to be shifted to the new under construction shrine on January 19 and darshan will be discontinued for devotees for three days ahead of the Pran Pratishta -consecration ceremony of the new idol of the deity .darshan will be suspended to ensure security arrangements before the January 22 consecration ceremony to be attended by prime minister Narendra Modi .Also keeping security concerns in mind ,the shri Ram Janambooni Teert Kshetra trust is contemplating some changes in consecration rituals already done on January 16 .The nagar bhraman (town tour) ceremony of the new idol will not be a public event as was planned earlier .The idol of Ram Lalla Virajman will be used as utsav idol(idol for festivals ) and is likely to be placed in front of the new idol of Lord Ram .Rituals on special occasions will be performed on Ram Lalla Virajman while new idol will remain stationary .The existing idol ,which fought the temple title suit for about three decades till a verdict on the Ram Janamboomi -Babri Masjid dispute was announced on November 9,2019 ,was shifted from a structure made of tarpaulin to the makeshift temple amid Covid 19 protocols by chief minister Yogi Adityanath on March 25,2020.Mysuru sculptor Arun Yograji’s shyamal (dusty) vision of five year old Ram Lalla ,a 51 -inch -tall figure in black stone ,was unanimously selected on Monday by 11 trustees of Shri Ram Janambooni Teerth Kshetra as the idol that will be placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple on January 18.The consecration is scheduled for January 22. However BJP is confidant of gaining electorally from the consecration of lord Ram and inauguration of Ram temple as the general elections are only a few months away from now .In short Ram Lalla is set to return from its makeshift temple to the magnificent Ram temple after a long wait of many years and will now get a permanent abode in the new temple constructed at the birthplace of Lord Ram and thus the long wait of the people is now over and the idol of Lord Ram will be placed in the new temple .The people of India and the Hindus world over were waiting for the auspicious moment when Ram Lalla will return to its permanent place and there is happiness and jubilation all around for the return of Ram Lalla to the new temple constructed .Jai shri Ram.
(The author is a columnist,
social and KP activist).