New Delhi: For a temple that is being touted as one of India’s biggest, and is expected to cost “several hundred crores”, the Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra, the trust set up by the Centre to oversee the construction of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, has currently just over Rs 15 crore in its corpus.
No official estimates for the Ram Mandir construction have been made public yet.
While about Rs 10 crore was transferred to the new trust from the erstwhile Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, which had been collecting donations since 1989 for the temple, the trust set up in February has collected over Rs 5 crore through donations so far, Swami Govind Dev Giri, the trust’s treasurer, told ThePrint.
“The trust has currently over Rs 15 crore in its account. Our fund collection drive was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic,” Giri said. “We will resume it after the bhoomi pujan ceremony on 5 August. There will be no dearth of funds for building Ram Mandir. Everybody will contribute for the cause.”
Asked about the estimate for building the temple, Giri said it has not been finalised as yet. “But the cost of building a temple of this scale will easily run into several hundred crores,” he said.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), which spearheaded the Ram Mandir movement, has planned a massive nationwide fund collection drive for the temple construction after the bhoomi pujan (ground-breaking) ceremony.
ThePrint had reported on 25 July that VHP volunteers have set a target of reaching 10 crore families in 5 lakh villages across India and appeal to people to contribute Rs 100 for temple construction.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be participating in the bhoomi pujan.
Also read: RSS says Ram Mandir is liberation from mental & cultural slavery, attacks Owaisi
‘Ram Mandir will be one of the largest in India’
Ashish Sompura, son of Chandrakant Sompura, the architect who designed the Ram Mandir 30 years ago, told ThePrint that though the design of the temple will remain the same, it’s size has been expanded to accommodate more people.
“The height of the temple has now been increased from 141 feet to 161 feet while its carpet area has been increased from over 16,000 square feet to 28,000 square feet. It will be one of the largest temples in India built so far,” said Sompura, who along with his brother Nikhil is now overseeing the temple construction.
Sompura said though his father has restricted movement because of age, he has finalised the revised plan. Sompura had presented the revised plan before the trust members.
According to the revised plan, the Ram Mandir will have ground plus two floors. In the original plan, the temple was designed till the first floor. “While the ground and first floor will be open to the public, the second floor would be restricted to temple staff,” Sompura said.
The temple will be constructed with pink sandstone called ‘Bansi Paharpur’, which will be transported to Ayodhya from Bharatpur in Rajasthan, Sompura added.
Sompura, who has been invited for the bhoomi pujan ceremony and will reach Ayodhya on 4 August, said it is early to give an estimate for constructing the temple. “Lot of detailing needs to be done before an estimate is worked out,” he said. “Because of the pandemic, we could not spend too much time at the temple site. We will work out the details after the bhoomi pujan ceremony is over.”
Also read: Ram Mandir priest, 14 security staff test Covid-positive week before Ayodhya bhoomi poojan
Government controls the funds donated to hindu temples by hindus (this arrangement is there in case of religious places of hindus only not for any other religion or sect)
Because of this the Ram Mandir should be built entirely on government money (it would be far less than the donations collected by the government due to control of hindu temples)
On the other hand the jakat paid by the Muslims does not goes to the government so the government should collect commercial rate of the plot alloted to Muslims
Government controls the funds donated to hindu temples by hindus (this arrangement is there in case of religious places of hindus only not for any other religion or sect)
Because of this the Ram Mandir should be built entirely on government money (it would be far less than the donations collected by the government due to control of hindu temples)
On the other hand the jakat paid by the Muslims does not goes to the government so the government should collect commercial rate of the plot alloted to Muslims
Do not worry about funds. See what happens I have 5 lakh reserved for Shri Ram temple a d we donate more if needed. I am 100 percent sure young guys who works in IT and abroad will not give less than lakh. If needed we will collect 100000 crore in very little time. So do not worry about fund.
When donation comes for religios we wmpty our bank accounts and here we talking a out Shri lord Rama and their is nothing above that
Great , hat off to your thoughts, wish Hindus all over the world donoates to Ram Janmabhoomi, it’s our source of inspiration, I did my part of contribution
Dear Print,
I can sense the weight on ur chest while writing about Ram Mandhir.
Ram was a king and just to keep his father’s word went from riches to rags.
Ram Mandhir for u is a structure for us it’s emotions.
We will build a home 🏡 for Ram lala while you can cover the news on structure.
Jai Shree Ram 🙏🙏
Well it’s quite funny that you are building home for the almighty who gave home to all humans.. he is universal he doesn’t needs a building to live in he is not human Shri Ram is the universe himself… So you people are just fullfilling YOUR wishes and it has nothing to do with worship Shri Ram.
THE PRINT DOESN’T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THE HOW THE FUNDS WILL BE GENERATED. TJE PRINT SHOULD MORE WORRY ABOUT WHAT NEXT FOR ITS PAY MASTERS FAKE GANDHIS.
Kya Ram Mandir banwana bohut jyada , zaruri tha?
Haaa… zaroori hai…hai Kuch problem??.
The Author need to mind his own business, WE WILL RAISE A THOUSAND CR IF REQD BY OUR CONTRIBUTION
We NRIs are ready to fund it. Also, GOI should fund it since money donated to Hindu temples is taken away by the GOI. (No other religious worship’s house money is taken expect from Hindus). Hindus are paying indirect tax in India for being Hindus.
No GOI doesn’t take away temple money. It’s the state governments.
Shekar Gupta and his band of journalist had given one sided video on delhi riots blaming Hindu’s which now seems scripted what kind of journalism is this that you seek funds due you see another military coup narrative in social media dominated world can never be one sided
Ruko madam jara sabar karo
Where did all the money collected for the temple by the VHP over all these years disappear? Running away with the ‘chanda’ for building a temple is an old pastime in India from ancient times.. Did not expect it to happen even in the 21st century.
Govt of India should fund the construction of the Temple.