After a long wait, on January 22, 2024, Lord Ram was finally enshrined in the sanctum sanctorum of Ayodhya's grand temple. The influx of devotees for darshan has been non-stop since that day. Everyone is eager to know how many have visited in this month, and to what extent offerings have been made to Lord Ram. Today, we unveil those details.
The consecration ceremony was conducted with full rituals. Moving the temporary idol of Ram Lalla to the sanctum sanctorum was required. The consecration of Lord Ram idols on January 20 and 21 meant that on these days, general devotees could not have darshan. Only those invited by the Ram Temple Trust were graced with darshan on January 22, the day of consecration.
That's why, as soon as permission was granted for all on January 23, an ocean of devotees eagerly poured in. Consequently, visiting hours at the temple have been extended, and now, from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, devotees can bask in the presence of their beloved deity.
60 million devotees visited the Ram Temple in a month
The queue of devotees seems to be ceaseless, and there is no dip in their numbers. In just one month, from January 22 to February 22, over 60 million have paid homage at the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. The devotion towards Lord Ram intensifies as followers eagerly present their offerings.
With such an overwhelming number of visitors, one wonders what has been offered? Approximately INR 25 crore has been dedicated at the various donation counters and boxes within the temple precinct.
The total donation exceeds INR 25 crores
According to the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, this sum includes checks, drafts, and cash donations by the devotees. However, this does not account for the donations made by international devotees or those transmitted directly through banks. If we sum up all the dedicated amounts from these various sources, the figure would be significantly higher than INR 25 crores.
Numerous ornaments unlikely to be used in the temple
As for ornaments and gems, devotees' faith is such that they're donating silver and gold items for the young Lord Ram, which cannot be utilized in the temple. Despite that, considering the devotees' faith, the temple trust accepts these generous donations of gold and silver jewelry, utensils, and other items. Prakash Gupta, office in-charge at the Temple Trust, observes the immense devotion of the pilgrims, although many items will be unusable. A devotee often donates 8 to 10 items at once.
Over 25 kilograms of silver and 10 kilograms of gold ornaments have been offered
Speaking of silver, more than 25 kilograms have been devoted to Lord Ram since the consecration. While the exact weight in gold offerings is not confirmed, sources from the Trust suggest it is nearly 10 kilograms, including different types of crowns and other dedicated items.
