Ram Mandir LIVE: Delhi govt schools to be closed in first half of Jan 22

Ayodhya Ram Mandir News Live Updates: Catch all the latest updates on the consecration ceremony here

Ram Mandir LIVE news: Delhi government schools will remain closed in the first half of Monday in view of the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, according to an order. However, schools having classes in the evening will start at 2:30 pm on January 22 and will finish according to their usual timings but not later than 5.30 pm, the order issued by the Directorate of Education (DoE) on Sunday said. This arrangement is only for January 22, it said.

A multi-layer security cover is in place in Ayodhya for the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple, with 10,000 CCTV cameras and drones equipped with artificial intelligence keeping an eye on the movement of people and police personnel in plain clothes deployed at the venue. From Dharam Path and Ram Path here, which are witnessing a huge influx of devotees, to bylanes of the Hanumangarhi area and Asharfi Bhavan road, policemen can be seen patrolling the streets.

ALSO READ: Grand musical rendition with 50 instruments planned for Ram Mandir event

Also, security cover and extensive CCTV surveillance have been put in place at prominent temples and different markets of the national capital for celebrations to mark the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, Delhi police officials said on Sunday. "No one will be allowed to breach law and order. Multi-level security checkpoints have been put up at temples and markets. The night patrolling staffers are directed to check hotels, guest houses, and dharamshalas," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast) Joy Tirkey.

ALSO READ: Ram temple images dominate Ayodhya, bank office named Ramjanmabhoomi branch

The much-awaited Ram temple consecration will be held in Ayodhya on Monday in a grand ceremony with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the rituals, following which the shrine will be opened for the public a day later. The "Pran Pratishtha" ceremony will begin at 12.20 pm and is expected to end by 1 pm. The prime minister will then address a gathering of more than 7,000 people, including seers and prominent personalities, at the venue. Lakhs of people are expected to watch the event live on TV and online platforms as BJP-ruled states and Odisha have declared a holiday while the central government has announced a half-day off. As authorities made final preparations in a decked-up Ayodhya, considered the birthplace of Lord Ram, temples across the country and abroad have announced special festivities to mark the occasion. From Washington DC to Paris to Sydney, events have been planned in various parts of the world on January 22. These programmes are either being organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) or Hindu diaspora groups in 60 countries. Fourteen couples from various parts of India will be the "yajmaans" (hosts) for the "Pran Pratishtha". The rituals ahead of the consecration ceremony began on January 16, and according to temple trust general secretary Champat Rai, these will end on January 21. The new 51-inch idol of Ram Lalla, sculpted by Mysuru-based Arun Yogiraj, was placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple on Thursday afternoon. The first image of the new idol with eyes covered with a cloth was released on Friday.

ALSO READ: Ram mandir consecration: Timeline of dispute, judgement and key moments

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in national capital Delhi has reversed its decision to take half-day off on 22 January, Monday, citing the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Pran Prathistha ceremony. The reversal of decision by the central government-run hospital comes amid severe backlash for taking a half-day off. On Saturday the AIIMS Delhi, and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi had announced a half-day closure of its offices and institutions on January 22, 2024, as Ram Lalla 'Pran Pratishtha' at Ayodhya will be celebrated across India. However, all critical clinical services will continue their operations.

Aiims Bhubaneswar has announced they will observe half-day holiday till 2:30 pm on 22nd January for Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla on Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration

ALSO READ: Ayodhya Ram mandir: History, controversy, inauguration, attendees, and more

The government of Madhya Pradesh has issued a directive, declaring the closure of slaughterhouses and meat and fish shops on January 22, coinciding with the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav remarked that the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of Ram Lalla at the Ayodhya Ram temple, scheduled for 22 January, holds the same significance as Diwali for everyone. Chief Minister Yadav expressed these sentiments during his address at the Akhand Ramayana recitation and bhajan competition held at Shri Ram Temple in Anand Nagar, Bhopal, on Saturday.

8:22 PM

Ram temple news: Delhi govt-run morning, general shift schools to remain closed on Monday

7:39 PM

Ram Mandir live update: Politics, religion should be kept separate, says Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav

7:05 PM

Ram Mandir news: ISRO releases satellite image of Ayodhya Ram Temple

The Hyderabad-based National Remote Sensing Centre of ISRO has provided a glimpse of the newly built Ram Temple in Ayodhya from space. Taken from the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite hovering over space, the image shared by ISRO on Sunday shows the grand new temple which will be inaugurated on January 22. The image, which was taken on December 16, last year, also shows Dasharath Mahal, the Ayodhya Railway Station and the pious Sarayu river.

5:42 PM

Ram temple consecration: Goa casinos to remain shut for 8 hours on Jan 22 in view of Pran Pratishtha ceremony

The operations of all casinos in Goa will remain shut for eight hours from 8 am on Monday as a mark of respect for the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, an official from a casino management company said on Sunday.

There are six off shore casinos and several on shore casinos operating in Goa. The off shore casino vessels are anchored in the Mandovi river near state capital Panaji.

It has been decided that all the casinos will close their operations from 8 am to 4 pm on Monday, Shrinivas Nayak, director of the Majestic Pride group which operates some of these casinos, told PTI.

5:13 PM

Ram Mandir Live: I would give credit to PM Modi for construction of temple, says Cong leader Acharya Pramod

5:05 PM

Ram Mandir news: Ex-India cricketer Anil Kumble arrives in Lucknow ahead of Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya

4:59 PM

Ram temple news: From 13,000 forces to AI-enabled cameras, Ayodhya under heavy surveillance ahead of ceremony

Over 13 thousand security personnel have been deployed in and around Ayodhya to ensure safe and smooth conduct of the grand 'Pran Pratistha' ceremony at Ram Temple, Uttar Pradesh Police department authorities said on Sunday.

According to authorities, they are also using anti-drone technology as well as artificial intelligence (AI) technology as part of their additional measures to add an extra layer of security.

Speaking to ANI, Special DG Prashant Kumar said, "This is a significant undertaking for the UP Police. It poses both a challenge and an opportunity. Extensive security arrangements have been put in place, including traffic diversions from surrounding districts. Only authorized vehicles are permitted to enter Ayodhya starting tomorrow."

4:41 PM

Ram temple Pran Pratishtha news: Rajnikanth arrives at Lucknow airport to attend ceremony in Ayodhya tomorrow

4:25 PM

Ram temple news: All govt schools in Jharkhand to remain closed on Jan 22 in view of Pran Pratishtha ceremony

2:42 PM

Ram temple consecration: Himachal CM announces public holiday on Jan 22

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday announced a public holiday on January 22 in view of the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

 

The chief minister also appealed to the people of Himachal Pradesh to light earthen lamps at home on the occasion.

 

"Lord Ram does not belong to a particular political party, but he is everyone's ideal and culture of the country," he said, apparently referring to the BJP.

 

"I will light a lamp in my house and encourage others to do the same. I will definitely visit the temple in Ayodhya in the near future," Sukhu said.

 

He further said that a statue of Lord Ram will be built in Jakhu.

 

The 'Pran Pratishtha' at the Ram temple in Ayodhya will take place on January 22 and will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries.

2:41 PM

Stringent security measures in place in Ayodhya ahead of Ram temple consecration ceremony

A multi-layer security cover is in place in Ayodhya for the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple, with 10,000 CCTVs keeping an eye on the movement of people and police personnel in plain clothes deployed at the venue.

 

From Dharampath and Rampath here, which are witnessing a huge influx of devotees, to bylanes of the Hanumangarhi area and Asharfi Bhavan road, policemen can be seen patrolling the streets.

 

Cops of the Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) had also conducted patrolling in Ayodhya on Saturday.

 

Movable barriers with barbed wires attached to it can be spotted virtually at every prominent crossing in the city, as policemen use them to regulate traffic especially during VVIP movements.

 

"The 'pran pratishtha' ceremony, which will be held on January 22, is going to be a historic event. For this, the Uttar Pradesh Police has made elaborate security arrangements and along with it, security has been ensured for every road along the entire red zone, yellow zone and Ayodhya district," Director General (DG), Law and Order, Prashant Kumar had recently said.

2:37 PM

Sonu Nigam, Malini Awasthi join hands for Ricky Kej's devotional song 'Ram Ke Hriday Mein'

Popular singers Sonu Nigam and Malini Awasthi have teamed up for "Ram Ke Hriday Mein", a devotional song composed by Grammy winner Ricky Kej.

 

Billed as a "tribute to Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya", the song was released on YouTube days before the consecration ceremony to be held at the Ram temple on Monday.

 

The 3.54-minute track is the title song of author Amish Tripathi's upcoming documentary "Ram Janmabhoomi: Return of a Splendid Sun".

 

Kej shared the link of "Ram Ke Hriday Mein" on his official Instagram account on Saturday.

2:36 PM

Delhi AAP to take out 'shobha yatra', organise 'bhandara' on Monday

The Aam Aadmi Party will take out a "shobha yatra" in Delhi on Monday and organise community kitchens across the city, party sources said here.

 

The programme coincides with the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

 

"The party will take out a shobha yatra on Monday that will see the participation of senior AAP leaders. The party will also organise 'bhandaras' across the national capital on Monday," a source said.

 

The AAP dispensation is also organising a three-day Ramlila event at Pearey Lal Bhawan that commenced on Saturday.

2:36 PM

Old idol of Ram Lalla to be placed in front of new idol, says Ram temple trust's treasure

The old idol of Ram Lalla, kept in a makeshift shrine, will be placed in front of the new idol which will be consecrated at the temple here on January 22, said Govind Dev Giri, the treasurer of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

 

He also said that more than Rs 1,100 crore has so far been spent in constructing the Ram Temple and another Rs 300 crore might be needed to complete the work.

 

A 51-inch Ram Lalla idol was placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple last week. Three idols of Lord Ram were built from which the one sculpted by Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj has been selected for "Pran Prathistha".

2:17 PM

Ayodhya skyline imbued with saffron as flags dot buildings

A day ahead of the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple, the streets and the skyline of Ayodhya have turned saffron with flags flying atop buildings, small and big, across the temple town.

 

On the tastefully decorated Ram Path and Dharm Path here, devotees can be seen walking or going on horseback waving saffron flags. Sale of such flags bearing images of Lord Ram, the new temple and Lord Hanuman have also increased manifold lately.

 

Nearly all buildings and shops along Ram Path, near the Lata Mangeshkar Chowk, are decked up with flags of different sizes.

 

Even houses, dharamshalas, mutts, shops and hotels along the inner streets of the city bear large saffron flags on their rooftops.

 

The skyline of the temple town is now dominated by these flags, especially the ones bearing the image of Lord Ram and the Ayodhya temple.