Ayodhya: The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has revised the *darshan* (viewing) and *aarti* schedule for the Ram Mandir—a highly sacred temple located in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. Taking into account the rest periods and the prescribed worship rituals for *Balak Ram* (the child form of Lord Ram), new guidelines will come into effect starting November 1, 2026. Here is the report regarding these changes:
Temple Opening Hours:
According to the new guidelines, the temple doors—which currently open at 3:45 AM—will now open at 4:00 AM. In the evening, the temple will close at 10:00 PM instead of 10:30 PM. Consequently, the duration available for devotees to have *darshan* will be reduced from 14.5 hours to 13 hours per day.
The complete new schedule, applicable from November 1st, is as follows:
Early Morning Schedule
4:00 AM: Temple doors open.
4:30 AM to 4:40 AM: *Mangala Aarti*.
4:40 AM to 6:30 AM: No entry for the general public. During this time, the priests perform *Abhisheka* (ceremonial bathing), *Shringara* (adornment), *Dhupa-Deepa* (offering of incense and lamps), and other morning worship rituals for Ram Lalla.
6:30 AM: *Shringara Aarti*, 7:00 AM: Official commencement of *Darshan* (viewing of the deity) for devotees.
8:00 AM to 8:10 AM: The doors will remain closed for 10 minutes for the *Bala Bhog Naivedya* (offering of food to the child deity). (*Darshan* will resume thereafter and continue until 11:30 AM).
Afternoon Schedule
11:30 AM to 12:00 PM: Offering of *Raj Bhog* (main meal offering); *Darshan* will not be available.
12:00 PM: *Raj Bhog Aarti*.
12:30 PM to 1:30 PM: Afternoon rest period for the child deity, Ram. The doors of the *Garbhagudi* (sanctum sanctorum) will remain completely closed during this one-hour duration.
1:35 PM: Resumption of *Darshan* for devotees.
Evening and Night Schedule
4:00 PM to 4:10 PM: The doors will be closed for the evening *Bala Bhog Naivedya*. (*Darshan* will be available thereafter until 6:45 PM).
6:45 PM to 7:00 PM: Offering of *Dhupa-Deepa* (incense and lamps) and *Naivedya* (food offerings).
7:00 PM: *Sandhya Aarti* (evening *Aarti*) will be performed. From 8:00 PM to 8:30 PM and 9:15 PM to 9:30 PM: The doors will remain closed for *dhupa-deepa* (offering of incense and lamps) and special *naivedya* (food offerings).
9:30 PM: *Shayana Arati* (the final *arati* before the deity retires for the night) will be performed.
10:00 PM: The temple doors will be closed completely.