Ayodhya/Surat: The holy city of Ayodhya reached a new spiritual high on Thursday as the consecration (Pran Pratishtha) of the Ram Darbar was carried out with grandeur at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple complex.

A special highlight for devotees from Gujarat was that the idols were adorned with ornate jewellery, including a 1,000-carat diamond, 30 kg of silver, 300 grams of gold, and 300 carats of rubies — all donated by Surat-based businessman Mukesh Patel. These precious gems were used to craft 11 crowns, 3 maces, necklaces, tilaks, earrings, and a set of bows and arrows. The ornaments were transported via a chartered plane to Ayodhya with government assistance and handed over to the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust.

“These ornaments symbolize more than devotion; they reflect national unity and reverence,” said Dr. Anil Mishra, a trustee of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. “This temple is where sacred belief meets architectural grandeur and scientific precision.”

Positioned on the first floor of the temple above Ram Lalla’s sanctum, the newly established Ram Darbar features intricately carved idols of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, and his brothers Lakshman, Bharat, and Shatrughna, as well as Lord Hanuman. This event marks the most significant consecration at the temple since the installation of Ram Lalla’s idol on January 22, 2024 — exactly 498 days ago.

The sacred rituals were performed between 11:25 and 11:40 am, coinciding with Ganga Dussehra and a rare Siddha Yoga, enhancing the spiritual atmosphere, according to temple priests.

Ram Darbar Sculpted from Ancient Marble

The idols are crafted from rare marble slabs that are nearly four decades old. Master sculptor Satyanarayan Pandey, who led the project, said, “This creation is meant to last a millennium. The more the marble is washed, the more luminous it becomes.”

The marble was rigorously tested by IIT Hyderabad to ensure its quality and durability, including tests for compressive strength, water absorption, and thermal resistance.

The main idol of Lord Ram stands 7 feet tall, with Hanuman and Bharat seated at 2.5 feet, and Lakshman and Shatrughna each standing at 3 feet. DeshGujarat