Ayodhya: The construction of Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya is progressing fast and will be completed ahead of schedule and the idol of Lord Rama will be consecrated in its sanctum sanctorum in January 2024, a Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust office-bearer said here on Sunday.

The grand temple of Lord Ram will be ready before its fixed time limit. The construction of the temple is going on at a fast pace. By 2024, Lord Ramlala will be consecrated in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, the trust official said.

New pictures of the construction of the first floor of the temple were released on Sunday. A rectangular Parkota is being built on an eight-acre land outside the temple in rectangular. The pavilion is being carved outside the sanctum sanctorum.

Member of the trust Anil Mishra said that devotees will be able to see and worship at the temple at an auspicious time after Makar Sankranti.

"Arrangements are being made so that the rays of the sun fall on the Lord’s forehead on the first Chaitra Ram Navami. About 300 to 400 people will be able to have darshan of Lord Shri Ram simultaneously. The temple will end 500 years of wait of people. Though most of the work has been completed on the ground floor, floor, lighting and finishing works remains to be done," he said.

Another member of Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Kameshwar Chaupa, said, "There are five pavilions on the ground floor and the Mandap will be the centre of attraction at Ram Mandir. God's flag will always be hoisted from the main mandap. The ground floor structure is ready."

He said, "The walls and roof of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple have been completed. Flooring and exterior work is yet to be done. The work of carving idols on 166 pillars on the ground floor of the temple is going on. The 6 pillars in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple are built of white marble and the outer pillars are made of pink sandstone."

According to a trust member, the ground floor work of the temple will be completed by December this year.

"The structure of the first floor will also be ready during this period. The remaining carving work will be completed by 2025. "The birth anniversary of the Lord will be celebrated on the first day of Chaitra Ramnavami of Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month in 2024. Exactly 12 o'clock on the day of Ramnavami, the rays of the sun will fall on the idol of Ramlala for some time making it a divine experience for devotees. The sun rays will be accompanied by the cool breeze blowing from river Saryu," he said.

(With UNI Inputs)