Ram Temple Consecration: PM Modi inaugurates Ayodhya Mandir; unveils Ram Lalla idol

Amid much fervour in the holy city of Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Ram Mandir and unveiled the idol of Ram Lalla. PM Modi also completed the Pran Pratistha rituals following the inauguration ceremony. 

"The supernatural moment of the consecration of Shri Ram Lala's life in Ayodhya Dham is going to leave everyone emotional. It is my great pleasure to be a part of this divine program. Hail Siya Ram!," PM Modi writes in a post on social media platform X.

Ram Temple, which is constructed at the birthplace of Lord Ram, will be opened to the general public on January 23. Notably, the grand event saw the participation of 7,000 VVIPs ranging from politicians to businessmen and celebrities such as Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, Virat Kohli, and Amitabh Bachchan amongst others. The cost of the construction of Ram Temple stood at ₹1,800 crore and was supervised by agencies such as Bengaluru-based National Institute of Rock Mechanics (NIRM), Larsen & Toubro Ltd and Tata Consulting Energies have supervised the construction of the temple.

Ahead of the inauguration ceremony, PM Modi inaugurated multiple projects in the holy city including Ayodhya International Airport, a railway station, a highway and the doubling of a railway line. These projects are constructed at an outlay of ₹15,000 crore.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, the government approved the proposal to declare Ayodhya airport as an international airport and namedit as “Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhyadham”. The development is significant as it'll raise Ayodhya's economic potential and enhance its significance as a global pilgrimage site, opening doors to foreign pilgrims and tourists. Ayodhya, with its deep cultural roots, is strategically positioned to become a key economic hub and pilgrimage site. The Ayodhya Airport will begin international operations beginning 2025.

Notably, the Ram Janmabhoomi issue has been at the heart of controversy for the last 31 years, following the demolition of the 400-year-old Babri Masjid by Hindutva sympathisers in 1992. In 2019, the five-judge constitutional bench of the Supreme Court led by Ranjan Gogoi, the former Chief Justice of India (CJI) passed the historic judgement, handing over the 2.77-acre land to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust which has been set up for the construction and management of Ram Mandir. The Muslims were, however, given an alternative land to build a potential mosque.

The opening of Ram Mandir is touted to increase avenues of tourist attraction and infrastructure in Ayodhya. According to a report by Jefferies, the number of pilgrims is expected to jump to 1 lakh-1.5 lakh per day in the religious city.

In terms of Ayodhya's impact as India's new tourist spot, it is estimated that it could attract 50 million tourists per year, says the report. "A $10bn makeover (new airport, revamped railway station, township, improved road connectivity, etc) will likely drive a multiplier effect with new hotels & other economic activities. It can also set a template for infra-driven growth for tourism," says the report.