Ram Temple Inauguration: The Lord Ram idol which has been placed at the Ayodhya Temple was revealed today, days ahead of the consecration ceremony on Monday. The idol depicts Lord Ram as a five-year-old child in a standing posture holding a golden bow and arrow.

The 51-inch Ram Lalla idol, sculpted by Mysuru-based artist Arun Yogiraj, is made of black stone.

In a build up to the consecration ceremony, the temple authorities unveiled the complete idol over two days. On Thursday, photos of the idol being placed inside the sanctum sanctorum were released, but it was covered with a cloth.

Another picture emerged today morning, where only the idol’s eyes were covered. The complete look was finally unveiled in the afternoon which showed the deity’s face as well as the golden bow and arrow.

Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said that all arrangements for the grand ceremony on January 22 have been made.

“Ramlalla has been installed in the temple. All arrangements, including that of infrastructure, medical facilities and medicines have been made,” Mr Pathak told news agency PTI.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and several other dignitaries will be attending the Ram Temple inauguration ceremony in Ayodhya on Monday. Billionaire Mukesh Ambani, Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar are among the 8,000-long guest list.

The rituals for the temple consecration started on January 12. On January 22, PM Modi will perform the puja for the “Pran Pratistha’, sources have said. A team of priests led by Lakshmikant Dixit will perform the main rituals of the Pran Prathistha.

Government offices, boards and corporations in several states have declared a half day or a holiday on January 22.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today got emotional as he spoke about a massive housing society project that has recently been completed in Maharashtra. The Prime Minister said he wished he had the opportunity to stay in such a house when he was young. “I went and saw (the project) and I thought that I wish I too had a chance to live in such a house in my childhood,” the Prime Minister said.

“Happiness comes when people’s dreams come true. Their blessings are my biggest asset,” he said, struggling to hold back tears.

महाराष्ट्र में पीएम आवास योजना के अंतर्गत गरीबों के लिए बनी सबसे बड़ी सोसायटी के लोकार्पण की बात करते हुए अपने बचपन को याद कर भावुक हुए प्रधान सेवक श्री @narendramodi। pic.twitter.com/oo9Khn22Hy

— BJP (@BJP4India) January 19, 2024

The Prime Minister dedicated 90,000 houses completed under PMAY-Urban in Maharashtra and 15,000 houses of Raynagar Housing Society in Solapur. He termed the project as “the country’s largest society built under PM Awas Yojana”.

The Solapur project’s beneficiaries comprised thousands of handloom workers, vendors, power loom workers, rag pickers, beedi workers and drivers.

The PM was addressing a gathering in Solapur after laying the foundation stone of 8 AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) projects worth around Rs 2,000 crore in the state.

PM Modi, who said his government is inspired by Lord Ram’s principles of governance with honesty, urged people to light “Ram Jyoti on January 22”, the day a grand consecration ceremony would take place at Ayodhya Ram temple.

“Modi’s guarantee means ‘guarantee puri hone ki guarantee’. Lord Ram taught us to honour commitments made and we are fulfilling all goals we set for the welfare of the poor and their empowerment,” he said.

The Prime Minister also distributed the first and second instalments to 10,000 beneficiaries of PM-SVANIDHI in Maharashtra during the programme.

PM Modi had earlier urged the public not to visit Ayodhya on January 22 and instead celebrate the day like Diwali by lighting a diya in their house. He will attend the ‘pran pratishtha’ or consecration ceremony at the Ram temple, which is expected to be opened to the public the next day.

Kriti Sanon is grabbing everyone’s attention with her remarkable fashion sense, especially at red-carpet events. Recently, she stunned in a stylish black dress at the trailer launch of her upcoming movie Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya. She has also shared a sneak peek of the photoshoot on her Instagram.

Sharing the photos, she wrote, “SIFRA mode on Kickstarting promotions #TBMAUJ.”

Kriti’s elegant black dress is made from luxurious Italian velvet, showcasing an off-the-shoulder sweetheart neckline, hand-crafted corset, and sleek, figure-hugging lines for a feminine silhouette. The bold asymmetric hem and exaggerated ruffles add a touch of drama. She kept her accessories minimal to let her outfit shine, wearing diamond stud earrings and glossy black pump heels.

Check out the pictures here: