The Sri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra- the body responsible for the construction and management of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, is in a fix over the date on which the gates of the sanctum sanctorum shall be thrown open for devotees. Though it has been announced time and again that the temple will be ready for devotees before the end of the year, members of the body are hesitant as between December 16, 2023 and January 24, 2024; kharmas will be observed in the lunar calendar.
This is an inauspicious duration during which the Sun transits Jupiter. All auspicious activities such as weddings, buying of property, purchasing a vehicle and starting a new business are best avoided during this period.
The Sri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra in a meeting held in Ayodhya today grappled with that question, made knotty by the fact that the BJP and the government have repeatedly been announcing that the sanctum sanctorum will be thrown open to the public before the end of the year. Though this information has not been made public by the trust, it is a bothersome issue. The dates being considered for opening the temple are between January 14 and 22, 2024.
The temple will be ready by September.
Among other decisions taken at Wednesday’s meeting was that while the idols are consecrated, prayers will be conducted throughout the country. While the idols are being carved from stones from Karnataka, these will be worshipped every day. The Trust will also appeal to people to remain in their regions to pray and not rush to Ayodhya- which is dug up and dust-covered at the moment due to the widening of roads and laying of underground wires. The Trust believes that crores of Ram bhakts will join these prayers which will be conducted according to regional beliefs and rituals.
The temple will have 34 steps and for the elderly, there will be a lift. Discussions have also started on the seven other temples which are to be constructed outside the boundary of the main temple.