Ram Mandir ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony concludes: Check out visuals from Ayodhya

The new 51-inch idol, sculpted by Mysuru-based Arun Yogiraj, was placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple on Thursday. A series of rituals preceding the main ceremony were conducted between January 16-21.

Here’s a look at the preparations and ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at the sanctum sanctorum of the temple in Ayodhya, in pictures:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for the consecration ceremony at the Ram Mandira. (PTI Photo)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at the Ram Mandir, in Ayodhya. (PTI Photo)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat offer prayers before the idol of Ram Lalla during the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ rituals at the Ram Mandir. (PTI Photo)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers prayers before the idol of Ram Lalla during the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ rituals at the Ram Mandir, in Ayodhya. (PTI Photo)

Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan, industrialist Anil Ambani and other dignitaries at the Ram Mandir ahead of the consecration ceremony. (PTI Photo)

Mukesh D. Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries Limited and Nita M. Ambani, Founder and Chairperson, Reliance Foundation with their family and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, during Pran Pratishtha ceremony at Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. (PTI)

Bollywood actors, including Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif, Vicky Kaushal and Ayushmann Khurrana, attend the opening of the grand temple of the Lord Ram in Ayodhya. (Reuters)

Flower petals being showered at the Ram Mandir during the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony, in Ayodhya. (PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with ‘shramjeevis’ who contributed to the construction of the Ram Mandir, after the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony, in Ayodhya. (PTI)

Ram Mandir decorated with flowers as part of preparations for its consecration ceremony, in Ayodhya, Jan. 22, 2024. (PTI Photo)

Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel deployed outside Hanuman Garhi Temple as part of security arrangements for the consecration ceremony at the newly constructed Ram Mandir, in Ayodhya. (PTI Photo)

Police personnel on duty for the Ram Mandir ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony. (PTI Photo)

Priests perform ‘puja’ rituals ahead of the consecration ceremony of Ram Mandir, in Ayodhya. (PTI Photo)

Devotees ahead of the Ram Mandir ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony, in Ayodhya. (PTI Photo)

Folk artists perform near Hanuman Garhi Temple as part of security arrangements for the consecration ceremony at Ram Mandir. (PTI Photo)

On the eve of the ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, the temple town of Ayodhya is in the grip of religious fervour. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastava)

The narrow lane that once led to the disputed temple site is now a wide, two-lane ‘Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Path’ with grand gates and huge walls decorated with murals. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastava)

Extensive preparations are underway in Ayodhya for the significant ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony at the Ram Temple, set to be inaugurated by PM Modi. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastava)

Natural flowers sourced from across the country are being used for decorations across the temple town. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastava)

Special floral designs have been made in preparation for the grand ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastava)

The decorative special lights used are themed on the religious diya, so as to accentuate the traditional look and the elements of the Ram temple. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastava)

Indian Air Force (IAF) choppers in a trial run of showering flower petals on the Ram Janmabhoomi Path on the day of the consecration ceremony. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastava)

The basic meaning of pran pratishtha is to ‘give life to the idol’. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastava)

The grand event of the consecration ceremony is set to witness the participation of about 8,000 invitees, including 1,500-1,600 “eminent” guests. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastava)

The shops and markets in Ayodha are seen bustling with visitors and devotees ahead of the inauguration event. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastava)

Ahead of the mega event, locals and tourists alike move around with saffron flags. The idol of Ram Lalla was installed in the temple on Thursday. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastava)

In order to manage the significant influx of devotees and guests, security arrangements have been ramped up in Ayodhya. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastava)

Near Hanuman Garhi and other places across the temple town, multiple NDRF teams have also been deployed ahead of PM Modi’s visit. (Express photo by Vishal Srivastava)