Ram Mandir Ayodhya: Things you need to know!

As Ram Mandir, or the temple of lord Rama is ready to be inaugurated on January 22 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries, there are a lot of updates coming in from the land of Ayodhya about not just the facts related to the construction of the temple but also about the rituals that are likely to be performed and how the consecration ceremony is leaving an impact on the businesses, hospitality and more in Ayodhya. Here's all you need to know about the upcoming ceremony. 

Facts about Ram Mandir

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• The construction of Ram Mandir remains one of the most controversial events in the history of politics in India which saw its beginning with the demolition of Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992. 
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Ram Mandir on August 5, 2020, after the verdict came in the favour of Ram Mandir on November 9, 2019. 
• The work of the temple is managed by Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra.
• The temple was constructed in the traditional Nagar style with a length (east-west) of 380 feet, a width of 250 feet, and a height of 161 feet.
•  It is a three-storeyed temple with each floor being 20 feet tall. It has a total of 392 pillars and 44 doors.
• There are five Mandaps or halls, and their names are Nritya Mandap, Rang Mandap, Sabha Mandap, Prarthna, and Kirtan Mandaps.
• The entry to the temple is from the east, and devotees need to climb 32 stairs through the Singh Dwar. There are also provisions of ramps and lifts for the convenience of the differently-abled and elderly.
• In the main sanctum sanctorum, there will be an idol of the childhood form of Lord  Ram and on the first floor, there will be a 'Shri Ram Darbar'.
• Four temples are dedicated to the Sun god, goddess Bhagwati, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Shiva at the four corners of the compound. The temple of Maa Annapurna exists on the northern side, while a Hanuman temple is on the southern side. 
• Giving it an appearance of artificial rock, the foundation of the Ayodhya Ram temple has been constructed with a 14-meter-thick layer of roller-compacted concrete (RCC).
• The temple ensures protection against ground moisture with a  21-foot-high plinth constructed using granite.
• The construction materials have been procured from diverse regions, such as Rajasthan,Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and others.
• As estimated in 2022, the cost of the Ram Mandir has incurred ₹ 1,800 crore.
• There will be golden doors in the temple. The first golden door, which is 12 feet in height and eight feet in width, has been installed on the upper floor of the sanctum santorum. The plan is to install a total of 13 more golden floors. 
• The pillars and the walls are adorned with statues of deities, gods, and goddesses. 
• Over 500 statues representing the life of lord Ram are being prepared in Ayodhya's Ramsevakpuram that will grace the corridor of the temple.
• Arun Yogiraj, a celebrated sculptor, has created the idol of Lord Ram that will be placed in the Ram Mandir.
• The idol of Lord Ram, presented as his five-year-old self has been unveiled recently. It is a 51-inch idol made of black stone, sculpted by the Mysuru-based artist Arun Yogiraj.
• The 'Parkota' or a Rectangular compound wall with a length of 732 meters and a width of 14 feet, surrounds the temple. There also lies a historic well or as it has been named, 'Sita koop' near the temple that dates back to the ancient era. 
• In the southwestern part of the complex, at 'Kuber Tila', the ancient temple of lord  Shiva has been restored, along with the installation of Jatayu.
• No iron is used anywhere in the temple.
• The temple complex also has a sewage treatment plant, water treatment plant, water supply for fire safety, and an independent power station.
• A Pilgrims Facility Centre (PFC) that holds a capacity of 25,000 people is being constructed which will provide medical facilities and a locker facility to the pilgrims.
• There will be a separate block with a bathing area, washrooms, washbasin, open taps, and more. 

'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony 

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• Pran Pratishtha rituals began on January 16 with Prayaschita and Karmakuti Poojan and have included other rituals like Teerth Poojan, Jal Yatra and more.
• There will be 121 Acharyas from all schools of Bharatiya spiritualism, religion, a system of worship, and tradition, who will perform all the rituals. 
• Sants of more than 150 traditions, Mahamandaleshwars, Mandaleshwars, Shrimahants, Mahants, and Nagas, as well as leading figures belonging to 50 Adivasi, Girivasi, Tatavasi, Dwipavasi tribal traditions, will be present in the ceremony.
• The 'Pran Pratishtha', taking place on January 22 will be done at 12:20 p.m.
• Chef Vishnu Manohar will be making Halwa for the ceremony with 900 kg Suji, 1,000 kg sugar, 2,500 gallons of milk, 300 kg nuts, 1,000 kg of ghee and 2,500 litres of water, tulsi leaves and banana. 
• More than 3,000 gifts from Janakpur, Nepal have arrived in Ayodhya. 
• Chattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai has sent 300 tons of rice for Ram Lalla's Bhog and Prasad.
• A special saree prepared in Gujarat's Surat city will be presented to Ram Mandir.
• A businessman from Etah, Uttar Pradesh has presented a massive bell, weighing 2,400kg, made of 'ashtadhatu'. 
• Satya Prakash Sharma, a locksmith from Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, presented a lock and key weighing 400 kg with 10 feet height. 
• Sri Lankan delegation brings sacred stone from Ashok Vatika to Ayodhya. 

Businesses boom in Ayodhya 

Ahead of the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya and the inauguration of the airport in Ayodhya, many businesses belonging to the F&B and the hospitality sector have announced their units in the city. The giants that are making their way to the city include Bisleri, which is opening a greenfield plant in Ayodhya; Parle Products opening their distribution centers and McDonald's setting up a new outlet. 

Along with this, Uber has launched its electric auto rickshaw services in Ayodhya. Other hospitality giants like Taj, Radisson, and ITC Hotels have also announced their properties in the city. Affordable giants like Oyo and Indian Hotels Company Ltd. also have plans to open new projects in Ayodhya, all of which are eyeing a boom in the tourism of the city in the coming time. 

What else is doing rounds?

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• All central government offices will remain closed for half a day owing to the ceremony.
• All educational institutes across Uttar Pradesh will observe a holiday on January 22.
•  The sale of liquor would not be allowed in U.P. on the day.
• Along with U.P., Haryana, Chattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh have declared a holiday for all schools and have announced a 'dry day'.
• Assam has declared a half-holiday for all state government offices and educational institutions till 2:30 pm on January 22.
• Odisha will observe a closure of all state government offices as well as the revenue and magisterial courts (executive) for half a day till 2.30 pm on the day. 
• The banks across the country will also be closed for half-day.
• PM Narendra Modi has released the commemorative postage stamps along with a book of stamps dedicated to Lord Ram. The elements of the design include the Ram temple, the 'chaupai' (verse) 'Mangal Bhavan Amangal Hari', the sun, Saryu river, and sculptures in and around the temple.
• With inputs from NDTV, Financial Express, WION, and OneIndia