The chief priest at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple site in Ayodhya has demanded an investigation into how pictures of the Ram Lalla idol were leaked online before the ritual eye-opening ceremony, called Netra Pratishtha. Acharya Satyendra Das said the idol’s eyes are meant to remain covered with cloth until the final rituals are completed, as per tradition, and the leaked photos showing visible eyes must be fake.
The pictures spread rapidly across social media platforms on Friday evening, though Vishwa Hindu Parishad officials denied releasing them. “The eyes of Lord Ram’s idol cannot be revealed before Netra Pratishtha is completed,” Acharya Das asserted. “If the eyes can be seen, an investigation should be done on who revealed the eyes and how the pictures of the idol are going viral.”
Some VHP officials speculated the photos may have been taken surreptitiously a few days before the black stone idol was placed inside the temple and were only being circulated now. But Acharya Das maintained the sanctity of temple rituals has been violated by distributing photos of the unconsecrated deity. The first authorized pictures of the completed idol are only expected on January 22nd, after all ceremonies are finalized, according to a VHP spokesperson.