A NEW IDOL of Ram Lalla sculpted by Mysuru-based Arun Yogiraj has been selected for installation at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, temple trust’s general secretary Champat Rai said on Monday. Replying to queries at a press conference here, he said the current idol of Ram Lalla will also be kept in the sanctum sanctorum of the new temple. Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony is being organised in Ayodhya on January 22. Rai on Monday announced that the idol of Lord Ram will be placed at its position at the ‘Garbh Griha’ of the temple on January 18 and Pran Pratishtha will take place at 12.20 pm on January 22. Addressing a press conference, Rai said that the muhurat (auspicious timing) was decided by Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid of Varanasi.

 

“The religious rituals will begin from Jan 16 and will continue till Jan 21. On Jan 22, ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony will take place. The idol for which ‘Pran Pratishtha’ will be done is expected to be around 150-200 kgs. On 18th January, the idol will be placed at its position in the ‘Garbh Griha’ of the temple.” He further said that the formal procedures of pre-Praan Pratishtha sacraments will start on January 16 and continue till January 21. General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust said that the Pran Prathishtha’ is expected to conclude by 1 pm on January 22. “On Jan 20 and 21 darshan will remain closed to public,” he added. “There are Seven Adhivaasas in Pran Pratishtha ceremony and a minimum of three Adhivasas are in practice.

 

There will be 121 Acharyas conducting the rituals. Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid will be overseeing, coordinating, anchoring and directing all the proceedings of the ritual and the principal Acharya will be Luckshmikant Dixit of Kashi,” he added. Helicopter services to Ayodhya from Lucknow: IN LINE with the preparations for the Pran Pratishtha programme on January 22, helicopter services from Lucknow to Ayodhya will commence from January 19. According to the Ayodhya Information Department, a total of six helicopters have been arranged from Lucknow to Ayodhya out of which three helicopters will be flown from Ayodhya and three helicopters from Lucknow.