Rock from Karnataka's Karkala sent to Ayodhya for Ram Mandir

VHP and Bajrang Dal workers performed a pooja in the presence of Karnataka Minister for Kannada and Culture V Sunil Kumar and sent the stone in a huge truck

A huge rock has been dispatched from Karkala in the Udupi district of Karnataka to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh for the construction of the idol of Lord Ram, to be placed inside the Ram Mandir being constructed in the city.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal workers performed pooja and sent the stone in a huge truck to Ayodhya, VHP sources said. Karnataka Minister for Energy, Kannada and Culture V Sunil Kumar, who represents Karkala in the state legislature, attended the ceremony.

The rock, called Nellikaru stone, is believed to possess unique properties and has been used in the construction of several famous sculptures that are displayed at prominent places. It was selected by experts from a small hill on the banks of the Tungabhadra River.

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Sources said stones are being brought from different parts of the country and even from Nepal to construct the idol of Lord Ram. One of these stones will be used to sculpt the grand idol of Lord Ram which will be installed at the temple. The work of sculpting the idol has been entrusted to five artisans in the country.

The idol of Lord Ram Lalla will be installed where Lord Ram is believed to have taken birth, and the pooja will be performed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the third week of January 2024, sources said.