The idol of Ram Lalla was brought inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya in the wee hours of Thursday.
A special puja was held in the sanctum sanctorum before the idol was brought inside with the help of a crane amid chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram‘.
According to Shri Ram Mandir Construction Committee chairperson Nripendra Mishra, the idol is likely to be installed in the sanctum sanctorum on Thursday, news agency PTI reported.
The idol was brought to the temple in a truck.
Seven-day 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.
The rituals will continue till January 21 and on the day of the consecration, 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.
ALL ABOUT ‘PRAN PRATISHTHA’
Preparations for the ‘Pran Pratishtha‘ event have been in full swing in Ayodhya, with more than 7,000 people, including politicians, industrialists, saints, and celebrities from across the country, expected to attend the grand opening. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest.
Additionally, nearly 100 representatives from different countries will attend the consecration ceremony.
The Ram Lalla idol, sculpted by a Mysuru-based artist, Arun Yogiraj, has been selected for installation in the sanctum sanctorum.
(with inputs from PTI)