Devotees light earthen lamps at illuminated Ram Ki Paidi to celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ram Temple, in Ayodhya.
A donation of 25,000 million (Rs 2,500 crore) has been collected for Ram Temple construction in Ayodhya, as per banks' receipts till March 4 in crows funding drive, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has informed.
"Based on banks' receipts till February 4, 25,000 million has been collected during donation drive for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya," VHP said.
Speaking on the matter, Champat Rai, General Secretary, Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, said, "Door-to-door collection has stopped. People can donate online on the Trust's website. We are in talks to acquire land for a ground in front of the temple but nothing decided yet. Temple to be ready in 3 years."
Prior to the crowdfunding campaign launch on January 15, the Trust had projected an estimate of Rs 1,100 crore for the Ram temple complex construction, but it received more than Rs 1,000 crore over projection.
Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust treasurer, Govind Dev Giri, has earlier told reporters, "The funds-raising campaign has ended with generous contributions from all cross-sections of the people, including residents of far-flung villages of India, blurring religious barriers..."
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Giri had pegged the construction cost of the temple at Rs 300-400 crore, while making an estimate of Rs 1,100 crore for building the entire complex on Ram Janambhoomi in December last year.
Ayodhya seers have now advised the temple trust to use the surplus money for development of Ayodhya and warned against misuse of the money donated by crores of Ram Bhakts.
However, Anil Misra, member of the Trust said, "The budget for building the temple complex is not final and this will be known only after the construction is complete."
Swami Paramhans Acharya, of Tapasvi Chhavni said, "The Trust should use additional funds to set up a Sanskrit University in Ayodhya in the name of Mata Sita and establish a gaushala for free supply of milk in the temple town."
Mahant Dhinendra Das of Nirmohi Akhara, said that "the money was donated by millions of Indians in the name of Lord Ram and the excess money should be used for the welfare of Ayodhya and its temples".
Hanuman Garhi temple priest, Mahant Raju Das, said the money could be used to revamp dilapidated temples in Ayodhya.
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