First 'Swarn Dwar' installed at Ram temple

The first of the ornate golden gates, known as the Swarn Dwar, at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya has repeatedly been installed.

This gate is the first among 13 golden doors to be installed in the temple within the next three days.

A picture circulating on social media showcases the intricate design of the gate. The middle panel displays two elephants in a welcoming stance, while the upper part features a palace-like structure with two servants. Intricate artworks adorn the bottom squares of the door.

The Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust overseeing the temple’s construction shared nighttime images of the temple. These images highlight the sculpture of Jatayu, a key character in the Ramayana, and beautifully carved figures of various deities adorning the temple’s pillars and walls.

Constructed in the traditional Nagara style, the Ram Mandir stands as a three-storied shrine, measuring 380 feet in length (east-west direction), 250 feet in width, and 161 feet in height. The temple boasts 392 pillars, 44 doors, and five Mandaps (halls) – Nritya Mandap, Rang Mandap, Sabha Mandap, Prarthna, and Kirtan Mandaps.

Preparations are underway for the ‘pran-prathistha’ ceremony of Ram Lalla scheduled for January 22 in the newly built temple. Idols of various figures like elephants, lions, Lord Hanuman, and Garuda have been placed at the entrance gate.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the temple’s inauguration on January 22 and will conduct rituals in the sanctum sanctorum around 12.15 pm. Over 7,000 guests, including 3,000 VVIPs such as priests, donors, and politicians, have been invited to the consecration ceremony.