The Ram Mandir, translating to 'Rama Temple,' represents an ongoing construction project in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India. According to Hindu tradition, it is believed to occupy the sacred site of Ram Janmabhoomi, the mythical birthplace of Lord Rama, a central figure in Hinduism. The temple's formal inauguration took place on 22 January 2024 following a prana pratishtha (consecration) ceremony.
The site holds historical significance as the former location of the Babri Masjid mosque, erected between 1528 and 1529. In 1992, the mosque was demolished after idols of Rama and Sita were placed inside in 1949, leading to years of legal dispute. In a landmark ruling in 2019, the Supreme Court of India granted the land to Hindus for the construction of the temple, while allocating nearby land in Dhannipur for a mosque.
On 5 August 2020, the ground-breaking ceremony (bhumi pujan) for the Ram Mandir commenced under the auspices of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Currently, the temple complex is under construction, overseen by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Modi himself presided over the prana pratishtha ceremony during the temple's inauguration, serving as the chief patron of the rituals.
Despite its spiritual significance, the Ram Mandir project has faced controversies, including allegations of donation misuse, marginalization of key activists, and politicization by the Bharatiya Janata Party.