The idol of Ram Lalla was brought inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on Wednesday evening and is likely to be installed on Thursday, Shri Ram Mandir Construction Committee chairperson Nripendra Mishra said.
The idol was brought to the temple in a truck. A special puja was held in the sanctum santorum before the idol was brought inside, PTI reported.
Mishra said the idol is likely to be installed in the sanctum sanctorum on Thursday, Mishra said.
The idol, carved in black stone by Mysuru sculptor Arun Yogiraj and weighing around 150-200 kg, was lifted by a crane from the truck that reached the temple along with a procession in the evening. The procession also stopped briefly at the Hanumangarhi temple in Ayodhya in a symbolic halt.
Rituals underway
Rituals are being performed in the run-up to the January 22 consecration ceremony at the Ram temple. A ‘Kalash Pujan’ was held earlier on Wednesday.
Also Read: Rituals begin at Ram Temple ahead of consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, ‘parisar pravesh’ today
The rituals will continue till January 21 and on the day of the consecration, on January 22, the minimum essential rituals needed for the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of the idol of Ram Lalla will be conducted, according to Ram temple trust officials. There are 121 ‘acharyas’ who are conducting the rituals.
The Ram temple ‘Pran Pratishtha’ will begin at 12:20 pm on January 22 and is expected to end by 1 pm.
(With inputs from PTI)