Ahead of the Ram Navami celebrations, a retired IAS officer, Subramanian Lakshminarayanan and his wife Saraswathy, have donated their entire life's savings to the Ram Temple trust in Ayodhya for the creation of a golden Ramcharitmanas. Estimated to be worth Rs 5 crore, the 151 kg epic contains 10,902 verses coated with 24-carat gold and was crafted by Chennai-based Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers. This act of devotion from the retired bureaucrat has set the tone for the upcoming Navratri and Ram Navami celebrations in Ayodhya.
Five states have declared January 22 as a holiday to mark the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Goa, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, and Odisha have announced a half-day holiday for state government offices and educational institutions, with Goa and MP also enforcing a 'dry day' to ban alcohol sales and consumption on the day. The move has been met with mixed reactions, with some praising it as a national festival and others criticizing it for being compulsory.
The UP government has launched an app called Sri Mandir, which allows devotees from all over the world to light diyas digitally in Ayodhya to welcome Lord Rama. The app was developed by e-commerce startup shopclues.com, under the guidance of Ayodhya Development Authority. This digital service is available on the app and website, with prices starting from Rs 51. However, caution is advised as scammers are spreading rumors about a VIP pass for the consecration ceremony on January 22.
In celebration of the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony, the Gujarat government has declared a half day for all state government offices and courts on January 22. The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya has been beautifully decorated with flowers in anticipation of the consecration ceremony.