Priests asked not to carry these items at the Ram Mandir consecration in Ayodhya

“Representatives of all the important temples of India will attend the function. We have made arrangements for the stay of the guests. They have been suggested not to carry anything with them to the venue for security reasons. This includes dandi, chhatra and paduka,” the report quoted Champat Rai, general secretary of the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, as saying.

The central government formed the trust in 2019 for the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

Rai said that the area around the temple would be under the vigil of the Special Protection Group (SPG).

Those who have received the invitations for the event have further been asked to skip attending the ceremony if they have any illness, considering that they might have to travel for a few kilometres to reach the venue and will also be required to sit for three to four hours at the event.

The organisers are making special arrangements for refreshments at 15 places for the convenience of the guests, said Anil Kumar Mishra, a member of the Ram Temple trust.

Around 8,000 people have reportedly received invitations for the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22.

Some of the prominent names include industrialist Mukesh Ambani, cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, and legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan.

Meanwhile, a committee of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust will decide on Friday regarding which of the three Ram Lalla idols being sculpted will be installed in the sanctum sanctorum.

The Ram Lalla idols are being sculpted by Ganesh Bhatt, Arun Yogiraj, and Satyanarayan Pandey, and are reportedly 90% ready and being given the final touches.