A new 51-inch-tall stone idol of Hindu god Ram Lalla depicting him as a five-year-old child was selected to be installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the trust managing the shrine announced on Monday, detailing the schedule of the January 22 ceremony that will shape national politics and be a major issue in this year’s general elections.
Trust Confirms Ram Lalla Idol
The idol, sculpted by Mysuru-based Arun Yogiraj, weighs between 150kg and 200kg and depicts the deity in a standing posture, said the temple trust’s general secretary Champat Rai.“The idol of Ram Lalla by Arun Yogiraj has been finalised and will be placed inside the temple on January 18 on the third day of the consecration rituals that will start from January 16,” said Rai.
About Ram Lalla Idol
- The selection of the idol of the child god — Hindus believe Lord Ram was born at the site — marks a significant step towards the opening of the Ram Temple on January 22 in a ceremony to be presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Building the temple in Ayodhya has been part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) manifesto for decades and is likely to be a major issue for the party in general elections later this year.
- Nritya Gopal Das, who heads the Ram Janmabhoomi Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, will give his blessings on the occasion
About Ram Mandir Ceremony
The Ram temple complex, built in the traditional Nagara style, will be 380 feet long (east-west direction), 250 feet wide and 161 feet tall, the trust had announced earlier. Each floor of the temple will be 20 feet high and have a total of 392 pillars and 44 gates.