The elaborate 'Pran Prathistha' (consecration) ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is scheduled to take place on January 22. The ceremony is set to commence at 12:20 pm and is anticipated to conclude by 1 pm, with celebrations commencing early in the morning on Monday. The inauguration of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple will be graced by the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other esteemed dignitaries, including UP CM Yogi Adityanath, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, UP Governor Anandiben Patel, and the president of the temple trust, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das. In light of this momentous event, several states have announced a half-day or full-day holiday for government offices, boards, and corporations on January 22.

The Ayodhya Ram Mandir holds immense significance as one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus. Ayodhya is revered as the birthplace of Lord Ram, making it a sacred destination for followers of Hinduism. The foundation stone for the Ram Mandir was ceremoniously laid on August 5, 2020, in a historic event presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This marked a crucial step in the construction of the temple, fulfilling the long-standing aspiration of many devotees.

Crafted by sculptor Arun Yogiraj from Karnataka, the 'Ram Lalla' idol is an impressive piece standing at 51 inches and weighing 1.5 tonnes. The depiction showcases Lord Ram as a five-year-old child standing on a lotus, all carved from the same stone. The complete unveiling of the idol on Friday revealed the deity's face, along with the presence of a golden bow and arrow, adding to the intricate details of this sacred representation.

The management of the temple is entrusted to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra. This trust, established by the central government on the directives of the Supreme Court, not only oversees the management of the temple but is also responsible for the construction of the temple complex, spanning an area of 2.7 acres, as per the information available on its website.

The construction of the Ram Temple is being carried out by Larsen and Toubro (L&T), with technical assistance provided by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). This collaborative effort ensures the adherence to high standards of construction and engineering expertise in the realization of this significant religious monument.

The grand event at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir has invited over 7,000 distinguished individuals, including cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Bollywood superstars Amitabh Bachchan, Rajnikant, Anushka Sharma, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, and industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani.

Invitations have also been extended to Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy and his wife Sudha Murty, author and philanthropist, S N Subrahmanyan of the L&T Group, Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu, and former cricketer Venkatesh Prasad.

Devotees can visit the Ram Mandir starting from January 23, and the darshan timings are divided into two slots – from 7 am to 11.30 am and 2 pm to 7 pm. To participate in the aarti, individuals are required to obtain a pass issued by the trust, for which a valid ID proof must be presented.

The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is accessible through various modes of transportation, including road, railway, and air. The Maharishi Valmiki Airport in Ayodhya has been recently inaugurated, providing air connectivity to the temple city, and Prime Minister Modi has also inaugurated the Vande Bharat Express from Ayodhya to New Delhi. For those traveling by road, several public and private service buses operate regularly to Ayodhya, connecting it with cities like Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Delhi, and other major destinations. The road network facilitates convenient travel to and from Ayodhya.

Additionally, Ayodhya is well-connected by rail, and the railway station in the city ensures ease of access for those opting for train travel. Overall, these multiple transportation options make it convenient for devotees and visitors to reach the sacred destination of Ayodhya and the Ram Mandir.

As of October last year, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra had estimated that approximately ₹1,800 crore would be spent on the construction of the grand Ram temple. According to a PTI report, the trust had already expended ₹900 crore on the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya between February 5, 2020, and March 31, 2023.

It's worth noting that those interested in witnessing the inauguration of the Ram Mandir can do so online. NDTV provides an online platform for viewers to virtually participate in the inauguration ceremony. Interested individuals can visit NDTV's website and social media handles, and the event will be live-streamed on ndtv.com/live. Updates will also be available on NDTV's live blog. Additionally, the inauguration will be broadcasted on NDTV's regional websites and the NDTV India portal.