Lord Ram’s idol to be consecrated in Odisha’s Gajapati on same day as Ayodhya Pran Pratishtha

Encouraged by the inauguration of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, a village in Odisha’s Gajapati is gearing up to set up idols of Devi Sita and Lord Ram in the local temple too.

The locals of Ramagiri will consecrate the idols of Lord Ram and Devi Sita at the Jagannath Temple on January 22, at the exact time of Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya.

Sculptor Binayak Bada Nayak has undertaken to complete the idol-making task without any remuneration. As per reports, the idols are in the last phase of making and will be ready by tomorrow.

Speaking about the idols, its sculptor Binayak Bada Nayak said, “We started the work on the day of Bhumi Pujan at Ayodhya. The temple will be painted too. We will complete it on January 18 and will be consecrated on January 22 at the same time when the grand Ram Temple will be consecrated in Ayodhya.”

"We have arranged sankirtan, yajna, prasad sevan and circumambulation on the day. We have done this for the betterment of our village and the Country as a whole,” said a member of the temple managing committee, Mrityunjay Maharathi.

The consecration ceremony at Ramagiri is expected to be visited by thousands of devotees from 12 panchayats.