An elderly artisan in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh, Satya Prakash Sharma, has made a 400 Kg lock for the Ram Mandir, which is expected to open in Ayodhya for devotees in January next year. Sharma, who is popularly known for handmade locks, is a devotee of Lord Ram. He worked hard for many months to make the “world’s largest handmade lock,” which he is planning to gift to the Ram temple authorities, reported news agency PTI on Sunday. Commenting on this, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust officials said they have been receiving offerings from a lot of devotees and they will think how they can use the largest lock in the temple.
Sharma prepared the gigantic lock only for the Ram Temple in his mind. He said the lock is 10 feet high, 4.5 feet wide, and 9.5 inches thick with a four feet key.
Earlier this year, the lock was also showcased during an annual exhibition in Aligarh. Sharma said currently he is making some minor changes in the lock and is decorating it with some additional designs as he wants the lock to be perfect.
Sharma said the lock was a “labour of love” for him, in which, his wife Rukmani also extended help. Rukamani was quoted as saying by PTI: “Earlier we had made a 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide lock but some people suggested making a bigger lock so we started working on it.”
She also added they are now busy giving the lock final touches.
Sharma said it cost him about Rs 2 lakh to prepare the lock and he has willingly put his life’s savings in turning his dream project into a reality.
His family has been involved in making handmade locks for more than a century. Sharma himself has been hammering, grinding, and shining locks in Aligarh, which is also known as ‘taala nagri’ or the land of locks, for over 45 years.
Sharma was quoted as saying by PTI: “As I’ve been in the lock-making business for decades, I thought of making a giant lock for the temple as our city is known for locks and no one has done anything like this before.”
Meanwhile, the temple trust said they will hold the consecration ceremony at Ram Mandir on January 21, 22, and 23 next year.
