Ram Temple consecration: ‘Darshan’ of old idol put on hold, stage set for opening tomorrow

These flowers, an estimated 50 kg, include: lotus, rose, jasmine and chrysanthemum.

In a ritual called “snapan,” that lasted about three hours, the sanctum sanctorum was also washed with water from 81 “Kalash” or urns, also sourced from a range of religious places and rivers across the country, including Sitamarhi in Bihar and Nepal, regarded as the birthplace of Sita. Some urns also had “medicated water with gau mutra” and juices of selected fruits.

Setting the stage for Monday, viewing or darshan of “Ram Lalla Virajman”, i.e. the old idol at the makeshift temple, was stopped. It will be moved to the sanctum sanctorum Sunday evening and its darshan is likely to be resumed from January 23 along with that of the new idol, said Satyendra Das, priest of the Ram Lalla at the makeshift temple.

Included in the rituals Sunday were “Shakradhivas”, “Phaladhivas” and “Pushpadhivas”, offering the idol sugar and sweets, then fruit and ending with flowers.

Meanwhile, the hawan, which began Friday, continued into the evening around the Mandap, about 100 m away from the temple site.