New temple in ‘memory of Ram Mandir movement’ to open in Ayodhya soon

On March 25, 2020, Uttar Pradesh's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath carried the idol of "Ram Lalla" to a temporary temple inside Ayodhya's temple grounds, marking the start of the main construction. The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has now erected a memorial temple at the temporary temple's location. This Memorial Temple commemorates the 27-year-long Ram Temple movement and Ram Lalla's journey from a temporary tent to the grand temple.

Temple Construction Committee Chairman Nripendra Mishra stated that both the temporary temple and the memorial are now complete, and they will soon be open to the public as a symbol of the history. The memorial temple, made of teak wood, features carvings and an electric "akhand jyoti" or "eternal flame" symbolizing remembrance of the Ram Janmabhoomi struggle.

The electric flame was chosen to avoid any risk of accidents due to heat generation. The makeshift tent that initially housed the idol will also be displayed in the temple in a foldable form. A separate memorial pillar, dedicated to those who sacrificed their lives for the Ram Temple movement, has also been constructed. Atop the pillar is a sun-shaped element with a pictorial display of Lord Ram and the Trust's slogan, "Ramo Vigrahawan Dharma."

The Memorial Temple and the pillar are near the Sapta Rishis temple near the Pilgrim Facilitation Centre. The Trust is still considering security measures and expected pilgrim footfall at the main temple before the memorial opens.