Ayodhya: Starting November 20, Ayodhya’s Ram Janmabhoomi Temple staff will begin outfitting the idol Ram Lalla on the occasion of ‘Aghan Panchami’, with winter clothing, including quilts, Kashmiri pashmina shawls, and specially designed garments by Delhi-based designers.
As winter nears, preparations are underway to keep Ram Lalla warm with woolen attire and prasad appropriate for the season. Instead of yogurt, Ram Lalla will be offered rabri-kheer and dry fruits, in line with the colder weather.
Chief Priest Acharya Satyendra Das emphasised the importance of Aghan ki Panchami, marking the start of these seasonal changes, which include bathing Ram Lalla in lukewarm water and using heaters and air blowers in the sanctum for warmth. The winter arrangements extend to the idols of his three brothers and Lord Hanuman in the Ram Darbar on the temple’s first floor.
Omkaar Singh, spokesperson for the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, shared that Ram Lalla will be dressed to reflect his royal status.
The Ram Temple, initially set to be completed by June 2025, may now be finished by September 2025 due to a shortage of workers and adjustments to some of the stonework. The installation of the 51-inch Ram Lalla idol, crafted by sculptor Arun Yogiraj, took place on January 22, 2024, with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi presiding over the ceremony attended by around 8,000 distinguished guests.
