The Ram Mandir is a Hindu newly constructed temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located at the site of Ram Janmabhoomi, the hypothesized birthplace of Rama, a principal deity of Hinduism. The site is the former location of the Babri Masjid which was built in 16th century CE.
The idols of Rama and Sita were placed in the mosque in 1949, before it was attacked and demolished in 1992. In 2019, the Supreme Court of India delivered the verdict to give the disputed land to Hindus for construction of a temple, while Muslims would be given land elsewhere to construct a mosque. The court referenced a report from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) as evidence suggesting the presence of a structure beneath the demolished Babri Masjid, that was found to be non-Islamic.
The temple construction officially started again after a Bhumi-Pujan (transl. ground breaking ceremony) on 5 August 2020. The three-day long Vedic ritual was held ahead of the groundbreaking ceremony, which revolved around the installation of a 40 kg (88 pounds) silver brick as the foundation stone by prime minister Narendra Modi.On the day before on 4 August, the Ramarchan Puja (transl. Puja of Rama’s feet) was performed, in order to ritually invite all the major deities into the temple.
The temple trust decided to launch a nationwide “mass contact and contribution campaign” aimed at reaching 55–600 million people. Voluntary donations of ₹1 (1.3¢ US) and higher were accepted. On 1 January 2021, former President Ram Nath Kovind made the first contribution towards the construction of the Ram Mandir by donating more than ₹5 lakh (US$6,300). Several leaders and notable personalities across the nation followed this. By April 2021, around ₹5,000 crore (US$630 million) was collected from donations across India. Nearly 150,000 VHP activists participated in collecting donations. The temple trust also received donations from the members of the Muslim and Christian communities.
In August 2021, a viewing location was created for the public to observe the construction works in the temple site. Following the groundbreaking ceremony, up to 12 metres (40 ft) of debris were removed and the remaining earth compacted.
The foundation was made using roller-compacted concrete. A total of 47–48 layers, each layer 0.30-metre (1 ft) high, were completed by mid-September 2021. Due to electricity supply issues in Mirzapur, the cutting of the sandstone was slowed down. In the beginning of 2022, a video was released by the temple trust, showing the planned construction of the temple in 3D along with other related information.
In January 2023, two 60 million-year-old shaligram rocks, 26 tonnes and 14 tonnes respectively, were sent from the Gandaki river in Nepal. These rocks were used to carve the idol of Ram Lalla in the sanctum sanctorum. In August 2023, according to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, 70% of the groundwork was completed and 40% of the roof work was completed.
In December 2023, the entire base, along with the six smaller temples that surround the main temple, which consists the sanctum sanctorum, were almost completed. The temple and its premises were completed, and the inauguration, along with the Prana Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla, was done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Chief of the RSS, Mohan Bhagwat and Chief of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, Nritya Gopal Das, on 22 January 2024.
In conclusion, more than just a religious temple, the Ram Mandir represents a confluence of faith, history, and architectural brilliance. The temple stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Lord Rama and the collective spirit of the nation. With the temple expected to serve as a beacon, guiding the spiritual and cultural aspirations of future generations, the construction of the temple is just the start of India’s cultural renaissance.