Gujarat Tattooist Inks 'Shri Ram' On Devotees For Free Ahead Of Ram Temple Event

Navsari: As religious fervor gathers pace as the consecration day of the Ram temple in Ayodhya approaches, a tattooist in Gujarat's Navsari town is offering to inscribe Lord Rama's name on devotees free of cost. Tattooist Jai Soni has already inked "Shri Ram" on the hands of 200 devotees and expects the number to reach 1,000 by the time the temple's consecration ceremony takes place on January 22.

"I was thinking what I can do on my part when the Ram temple is built in Ayodhya. Being a tattoo artist, I decided to give devotees a free tattoo of Lord Ram's name," Soni said. It is his small contribution in this event, he said. Soni started his mission in December and has signed "Shri Ram" on 200 devotees so far. More than 700 people have booked their appointment with the tattoo artist and the figure is expected to reach 1,000 and more by January 22.

A devotee who came for the free tattoo said, "I will have my first tattoo of Lord Rama's name when the Ram Lalla idol is installed in the temple. I think everyone should associate themselves with Lord Rama and his work in some way." Soni claimed to have entered the India Books of Records for tattooing continuously for 67 hours. Ayodhya is gearing up for 'Pran Pratishtha' in the grand Ram temple to be held on January 22 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Built in the traditional Nagara style, the Ram temple complex will have a length of 380 feet (east-west direction), a width of 250 feet and a height of 161 feet. Each floor of the temple will be 20 feet high and have a total of 392 pillars and 44 gates.