The inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is just around the corner on January 22. To ensure everything is ready before the idol of Lord Rama is consecrated, preparations are underway.
On January 22, after the consecration ceremony, a special offering will be made to Lord Rama, including rice from Chhattisgarh and sweets from Nepal.
Chhattisgarh is sending the largest batch of rice ever, weighing 3,000 quintals, which has been collected from different districts of the state.
From Janakpur, Nepal, the in-laws' place of Lord Rama, garments, fruits, and sweets will arrive in Ayodhya on January 5. Additionally, 1,100 plates adorned with gifts will also be part of the offerings.
Apart from jewelry, utensils, clothes, and sweets from Nepal, 51 types of sweets, yogurt, butter, and silver utensils will be sent as well.
From the Etah district of Uttar Pradesh, a 21-kilogram bell made of eight metals will be presented in Lord Rama's court. It's claimed to be the country's largest bell, with a cost of 25 lakh rupees and 400 employees involved in its creation.
The bell, transported from Etah to Ayodhya, has a width of 15 feet and an interior width of 5 feet, weighing 2100 kilograms. It took a year to craft.
For the consecration ceremony, a 108-foot-long incense stick is being sent from Vadodara, Gujarat. Made with cow dung, it weighs 3500 kilograms and is prepared with panchgavya and havan materials.
The cost of crafting this incense stick, heading to Ayodhya in a 110-foot-long chariot from Vadodara, exceeds five lakhs and took six months to create.
After the consecration of the Ram Mandir, Lord Rama's sandals will be placed there. Currently, these sandals are being taken on a 41-day pilgrimage across the country, crafted by Shri Challa Srinivas Shastri from Hyderabad.
Shri Challa Srinivas Shastri undertook a 41-day pilgrimage with these sandals, and after that, they will be taken to various prominent temples from Rameswaram to Badrinath for special worship.