Ram idol crafted in Udupi, reaches Ayodhya, set for installation at temple complex
Ayodhya: An idol of Lord Ram crafted in Karnataka has arrived in Ayodhya ahead of its scheduled installation at the Ram Temple complex on December 29. Trust officials said the installation is likely to add another focal point for worshippers within the Ram Temple complex.
The statue was created in Udupi with South Indian craftsmanship and following traditional sculptural techniques along with Vedic principles. The statue is adorned with gold, silver and diamonds, as reported by India Today. Measuring nearly 7 feet 10 inches in height and weighing around four to five quintals, the idol is crafted with Tanjore-style detailing.
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Dr Anil Mishra, who is the trustee of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, said the idol was crafted by Bengaluru-based artist Jayashree Phadish. Jayashree has donated idols to several temples across the country. Mishra said the statue would be formally unveiled and installed on December 29 at an auspicious time.
According to the Trust, the idol will be installed near the Sant Tulsidas Temple, in the direction of Angad Tila, within the broader temple premises. Preparations for the installation ceremony are in their final stages, with saints, religious leaders and devotees from across India expected to attend.
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Hormuz Strait disruptions have caused huge economic impact, energy instability in region: Navy chief
Mumbai (PTI): The Strait of Hormuz disruptions have caused severe economic impact and energy instability in the region, Indian Navy chief Admiral D K Tripathi said on Thursday amid the war in West Asia.
Speaking at an event where INS Sunayna, an offshore patrol vessel, set sail from Mumbai as Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar, the admiral said competition at sea has no longer remained confined to oil and energy.
It is now expanding towards resources that will shape future growth - such as rare earth elements, critical minerals, new fishing grounds and even data, he said.
The West Asia crisis began on February 28 after a joint attack by the US and Israel on Iran.
Iran's strikes on its neighbours along with its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted the world's energy supplies with effects far beyond West Asia.
"With the conflict in West Asia well into its fifth week, the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have caused severe economic impact and energy instability in the region," Tripathi said.
There is significant increase in the marine survey, deep-sea research activity, and Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU), often encroaching upon the sovereign rights of littoral nations and exploiting gaps in monitoring and enforcement, he said.
Alongside these, threats such as piracy, armed robbery and narco-trafficking backed by unimpeded access of advanced technology to non-state actors, have also become more complex and challenging to counter, the Navy chief pointed out.
Last year alone, the Indian Ocean Region witnessed a staggering 3,700 maritime incidents of varying nature, the admiral said.
Additionally, narcotics seizures in the region exceeded USD 1 billion USD in 2025, highlighting the persistence and spread of such challenges in the region, he said.
