Just days after the Uttarakhand government banned the use of mobile phones on all four sites of the Char Dham Yatra, the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra and the Ayodhya administration have followed suit by outlawing electronic devices in the Ram Temple.
The temple is currently witnessing a surge in tourists and Ayodhya was one of the top searched-for destinations this summer for family travel, according to a report by travel company Booking.com. The rise of religious tourism has boosted post-pandemic travel to Uttar Pradesh in the first three months of this year.
Here’s what you need to know about the new rules.
According to Anil Mishra, a member of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the decision to ban electronic devices like mobile phones and electronic keys on the premises of the Ram Temple was taken to ensure the security and comfort of devotees. He stated that visitors can avail of locker and cloakroom facilities at the site to deposit their possessions, while urging their cooperation in the matter.
Meanwhile, the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra also announced plans for the construction of a 14-foot-wide security wall called “Parkota” to surround the temple. They said that the multifunctional area will feature six additional temples dedicated to various deities and accommodate up to 25,000 pilgrims.
Constructed on the grounds of a Mughal-era mosque called the Babri Masjid, the Ram Temple is built in the traditional Nagara style of temple architecture. The three-storey structure is 115m long and 76m wide. It has five main halls: the Nritya Mandap, Rang Mandap, Sabha Mandap, Prarthna Mandap and Kirtan Mandap. The walls and pillars are adorned with intricate sculptures depicting Hindu deities. The ground floor showcases the life of Ram in intricate detail while the first floor immerses visitors in the grandeur of Ram's Darbaar.
The installation of the 129cm tall idol of Ram Lalla (the childhood form of the deity) was crafted by famed sculptor Arun Yogiraj. The “prana pratishtha” ceremony took place on January 22, 2024, and was attended by around 7,000 VIPs from around the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the rituals.