News Brief
Kuldeep Negi
Jan 19, 2024, 08:19 AM | Updated 08:19 AM IST
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Ahead of the Pran Prathishtha ceremony on 22 January, the murti of Shri Ram Lalla has been installed in the sanctum sanctoram of Ayodhya Ram Mandir.
A special puja was held in the sanctum sanctorum before the idol was brought inside with the help of a crane on Wednesday night.
Carved in black stone by Mysuru sculptor Arun Yogiraj, the murti weighs around 150-200 kg. It was lifted by a crane from the truck that reached the temple along with a procession in the evening.
The procession also stopped briefly at the Hanumangarhi temple in Ayodhya in a symbolic halt.
Earlier, the Temple Trust had announced that the murti of Ram Lalla sculpted by Karnataka sculptor Arun Yogiraj has been selected for installation at Ram Temple.
"The Murti sculpted on Krishna Shila, by renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj, has been selected as Shri Vigraha of Bhagwan Shri Ramlalla Sarkar," Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra had announced on X.
Pran Pratishtha of Lord Ram's murti is scheduled at the grand temple in Ayodhya at 12.30 pm on 22 January, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The rituals for the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony began on Tuesday and will continue for seven days.
Kuldeep is Senior Editor (Newsroom) at Swarajya. He tweets at @kaydnegi.