Devotees Splurge On Jets, Gold-Plated Idols As Ram Temple Opens Monday

Ram Temple Opening: Some retailers say gold and gold-plated statues of Lord Ram and temple replicas - priced at between Rs 30,000 ($361) and Rs 220,000 ($2,647) - are so popular that they have run out of stock.

The private jet parking lots at airports near the city of Ayodhya are full and the shops have run out of gold-plated idols, as wealthy devotees prepare for the invite-only opening ceremony of one of Hinduism's holiest temples.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani are among the 8,000 or so attendees at Monday's inauguration event for the Ram Temple.

The construction of the temple fulfils a key campaign promise of PM Modi and his party BJP.