Ayodhya Ram Mandir: 45kg gold worth Rs 50 crore used; public access to Ram Darbar restricted

AYODHYA: Nripendra Mishra, chairman of the Ram Temple Construction Committee, said 45kg of pure gold was used in the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. He said the estimated value of the gold, excluding taxes, is around Rs 50 crore.

Gold has been used extensively in the doors on the ground floor of the temple and the throne of Lord Ram.He said gold work is still on in the Sheshavatar Temple. While the main structure of the Ram Mandir has been completed, other parts of the temple complex, including the museum, auditorium, and guesthouse, are still under construction. These are expected to be completed by Dec 2025.Following the consecration of Ram Darbar, Mishra said arrangements are being made for controlled public access to the sacred space.

For now, only a limited number of devotees will be allowed to visit the Ram Darbar, and entry will be regulated through passes, which will be issued free of cost, he said. The trust will finalize a plan for public access at a forthcoming meeting, Mishra said. The consecration ceremony has drawn large crowds to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.Champat Rai, general secretary of the temple trust, on Friday advised the temple visitors to exercise patience for visits to the Ram Darbar.

A trust official clarified that the newly consecrated Ram Darbar is not yet open to the general public.As the Ram Darbar is 20-foot-high and requires devotees to climb nearly 40 steps, there are limited arrangements for going up, and the lift's construction will take time, Rai said."A lift is being constructed for elderly devotees, but it will take time to complete. Devotees will have to wait to visit the Ram Darbar due to unfavourable conditions and, after the rainy season, public visits may be possible," Rai said.The final task will be to hoist the flag on the temple's shikhara, likely in Oct or Nov, once the weather is favourable. Until then, minor works will be completed, Rai said.

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