(Image source from: Twitter.com/myogiadityanath)
According to the temple trust, over 2.5 million devotees have visited the magnificent Ram Temple in Ayodhya since its consecration on January 22. These devotees have generously donated more than ₹ 11 crore as offerings. The temple has been open to the public for 11 days now, during which ₹ 8 crore has been deposited in the donation boxes, while ₹ 3.5 crores have been donated through cheques and online payments. Prakash Gupta, the office in-charge of the temple trust, shared this information with news agency PTI.
To facilitate the offering process, the temple's sanctum sanctorum, where the new Balak Ram idol and the Ram Lalla idol reside, has four donation boxes. Devotees can place their offerings in these boxes as they walk along the 'darshan path' to pray to the deity. Additionally, there are 10 computerized counters available for digital donations. Here, devotees can make offerings through cheques and other online payment methods.
At the end of each day, when the counter closes, a team of 14 workers, including 11 bank employees and three temple trust workers, counts the offerings that have been deposited in the donation boxes. This entire process, from receiving donations to counting the amount, is carried out under the watchful eyes of CCTV surveillance. In the coming weeks, as the harsh winter conditions in North India subside, it is expected that more devotees will have the opportunity to visit the Ram Temple. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently convened a meeting with state and district officials at the control room of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi complex to ensure the safety and well-being of these devotees.
Adityanath expressed optimism about the improved weather conditions and milder temperatures, which are likely to result in an increase in tourists and followers of Lord Ram visiting Ayodhya. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that all devotees have easy access to darshan (sight) of Ram Lalla, and called for special measures to facilitate this. Yesterday, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia inaugurated non-stop flight services connecting Ayodhya with eight other cities across India. SpiceJet airlines has also announced direct flights to Ayodhya from Darbhanga, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Jaipur, Patna, Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
The inauguration of the much-awaited temple of Lord Ram Lalla took place last month, following a grand consecration ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as various dignitaries, celebrities, and businessmen. While the initial phase of the temple has already been constructed within the expansive 70-acre complex, the completion of the second phase is scheduled for December 2025.
