Ram Mandir Consecration | Top developments on January 19, 2024

Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia Islamia University has announced that it will remain closed for half day on January 22.

Maharashtra government has declared public holiday on January 22, the day of Ram Mandir consecration.

Apurva Chandra, Secretary of India's Information and Broadcast Ministry said that the government is preparing a world-class media centre in Ayodhya.

"We are preparing a world-class media centre here...The world is eagerly waiting for this event ('pranpratishtha' of Ram Temple)...We have had a conversation with the central government to ensure that there is a slot for media with camera access on January 22...Buses will also ply from Lucknow so that media people can reach Ayodhya and witness the programme from the media centre and later do their coverage..." he told ANI.

People in Ayodhya lit 'diyas' (earthen lamp) on Friday.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has urged everyone to follow rules and directions issued by the authorities so that everyone gets to offer prayers on January 22.

"...We are providing facilities in the state for people...We will coordinate and plan things but people are advised to follow directions to avoid chaos...People are advised to continue to provide their cooperation so that every devotee can do darshan properly..." he said.

The Supreme Court judges who delivered the historic Ayodhya Ram temple verdict have been invited for January 22 'Pran Pratishtha' or consecration ceremony, media reports said. 

A skilled sculptor from the Indian city of Jaipur, Navratna Prajapati, reportedly carved the idol of Lord Ram on pencil lead. This is now touted as the smallest Lalla idol on a pencil. It took the young man about five days to create the idol. 

All government offices in Gujarat will remain closed for half a day on January 22 to celebrate the consecration of Ram temple in Ayodhya, officials said on Friday. A notification regarding the closure of offices till 2.30 pm on January 22 was issued by the state government late on Thursday night, PTI news agency said citing offices. 

“The entire country will be celebrating the Ram temple consecration ceremony on January 22. All offices and institutes of state government will remain closed till 2.30 pm on January 22 so that people of the state can participate in the celebrations,” the notification read. 

The first portable hospital built under the Health Ministry is being sent to Ayodhya. Air Force doctors and health workers will prepare hospitals at two places in Ayodhya with two cubes. Cubes are being sent to Lata Mangeshkar Chowk and Tent City. Arogya maitre cube will be able to handle casualties of 400 people. One Air Force doctor and paramedical in one hospital. 6 people including staff will be deployed.

The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has dispatched a high-level team to Ayodhya temple city of Uttar Pradesh to tackle the cyber threats. "Be cautious of a cybercrime alert! There's a trend of sending malicious mobile applications (APK) or forms related to VIP entry to the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya through WhatsApp or advertisements. These could compromise your device and lead to cybercrime fraud," said an alert issued earlier. 

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak reportedly said, "This is a wonderful moment, an unforgettable moment. Lord Ram is coming. All preparations are complete." 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as part of the rituals ahead January 22 ceremony, is reportedly sleeping on the floor with a blanket, doing meditation, taking special "satvik" diet which excludes items like onion and garlic, and drinking coconut water, media reports said citing source. 

The entire route from Ayodhya airport to Ram temple will be decorated with over 70 tonnes of flowers. Flowers have been procured from eight states including West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab as well as from outside the country. 

Anti-terrorist squad commandos have been deployed in Ayodhya to increase security ahead of the temple ceremony on January 22. 

Surreal pictures are emerging out of Ayodhya temple city, as it is all decked up in preparations for the Ram Mandir inauguration. Visuals from daytime and nighttime are capturing everyone's imagination. 

A young man and son of Nishadraj's dynasty from Kaushambi district in India's Uttar Pradesh will reach Ayodhya by running for complete two days. He is setting out for this ultra marathon to get a 'darshan' of Lord Ram. As the man left his house, people paid their respects to him with flower garlands and sent him off.

Ayodhya Ram Mandir's consecration ceremony will be live-streamed on India's public service broadcaster, Doordarshan, on January 22. Reports indicate that the live broadcast will be in 4K technology and there will be a total of 40 cameras installed at several locations to capture the ceremonial rituals. 

Beautifully sculpted in black stone, Lord Ram Lalla, covered in a veil, was seen for the first time by the devotees after being placed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. The idol was placed inside the temple on Thursday (Jan 18) afternoon, with the consecration of the deity set for January 22.