The idol of Ram Lalla reached the Ayodhya temple late Wednesday evening and was lifted using a crane to place it in the sanctum sanctorum where it will be installed ahead of ‘Pran Pratistha’ ceremony.

The idol, carved in black stone by Mysuru sculptor Arun Yogiraj and weighing around 150-200 kg, was lifted by a crane from the truck that reached the temple along with a procession in the evening. The procession also stopped briefly at the Hanumangarhi temple in Ayodhya in a symbolic halt.

An image later showed the idol being placed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple as the workers looked on. A special puja was held in the sanctum sanctorum before the idol was brought inside.

It is likely to be installed in the sanctum sanctorum on Thursday, said Shri Ram Mandir Construction Committee chairperson Nripendra Mishra.

The idol was brought inside the temple for the first time on Wednesday, which marked the second day of the weeklong rituals before Monday’s Pran Pratishtha ceremony.