Lucknow, 5 Dec: As the countdown to the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya begins, so does the desire for temple-related artifacts.
A Prayagraj-based handicrafts unit has received orders for one lakh tiny miniatures of the Ram temple constructed of pinewood board using a laser-cutting process. People will utilize the temple models as ornamental and gift items.
“There has been a sudden demand for the Ram temple models across the markets of the state,” said Anurag Asthana, who pioneered the notion of producing replicas of the Ram temple.
“Every week, we send roughly 500 models of various sizes to Ayodhya alone. Demand has increased significantly since the Dev Deepawali event,” he added. To meet the increased demand, many handicraft units in Kashi, Prayagraj, and Gorakhpur are developing and molding Ram temple replicas.
According to Asthana, the majority of demand comes from corporations, banks, and event management businesses. “We have already delivered 5,000 models in the past four months and are making efforts to increase production,” he told reporters.
“Initially, we had one machine to design and shape these models, but due to the overwhelming demand in markets, we had to install seven machines to keep up with the craze,” he explained. “We’ve also hired designers and artisans to make replicas,” Asthana explained.
“Apart from Ram temple models, there is also demand for Kashi Vishwanath temple models and Hanuman Chalisa miniatures among the devotees,” he went on to say. These temple replicas are also available online, with prices ranging from ?1,000 to ?10,000 depending on size.
