2,400 kg ‘Ashtadhatu’ Bell Crafted for Ayodhya’s Ram Temple
Etah (UP), January 10 – A grand addition is on the horizon for the Ram temple in Ayodhya as a colossal bell, weighing 2,400 kg and made of ‘ashtadhatu’ (eight metals), is set to make its way from Jalesar town in Etah district.
Crafted at a cost of Rs 25 lakh by a diverse team of around 30 workers, the bell is a donation fulfilling the wish of the late Vikas Mittal, former chairman of Jalesar Nagar Panchayat. Although Vikas Mittal passed away in 2022, his brothers Aditya and Prashant Mittal are honoring his desire to contribute the bell to the temple.
Made of gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, tin, iron, and mercury, the bell is among the largest in the country, measuring six feet in height and five feet in width. It is anticipated to produce a sound audible within a 2 km radius.
Providing insights into the intricate bell-making process, Prashant Mittal emphasized its uniqueness, highlighting that it is crafted as a single piece, making the task more challenging. The process involved meticulous shaping and measuring, creating wooden templates for the mold, metal preparation, tuning, grinding, and fitting the clapper.
The Mittals received the bell order from the Nirmohi Akhara, a litigant in the Ayodhya title dispute, immediately after the Supreme Court’s decision in November 2019. Aditya Mittal expressed the family’s belief in a divine reason for undertaking this work, leading to their decision to donate it to the temple.
Etah district, renowned for its artisans, particularly in bell craftsmanship, has approximately 300 factories in Jalesar contributing to this art. The region’s brass handicraft has flourished under the ‘one district, one product’ scheme initiated by the Yogi Adityanath Government, attracting orders from India and abroad.
