The idol of Ram Lalla was finally inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Ayodhya temple ending the many years of wait for scores of devotees. The idol was brought inside on Wednesday night after a special puja, Shri Ram Mandir Construction Committee chairperson Nripendra Mishra told news agency PTI. He said the idol is likely to be installed in the sanctum sanctorum on Thursday.
The idol was brought to the temple in a truck and was placed inside the temple with a crane after following rituals. The consecration ceremony began on January 16 and will continue till January 22 -- the day of the much-anticipated inauguration. Several rituals will be performed over the next few days in the run-up to the event.
According to trust officials, most of the rituals will be over by January 21 and only minimum essential rituals needed for the 'Pran Pratishtha' of the idol of Ram Lalla will be conducted on the main day. As many as 121 'acharyas' will be conducting the rituals. The ceremony will begin at 12:20 pm on January 22 and is expected to end by 1 pm.