“Devotees throng Bihar’s Motihari as world’s largest Shivling installed at Virat Ramayan Mandir”, Indian Express, January 18, 2026“As the sun rose over the sprawling grounds of the Virat Ramayan Mandir in East Champaran district’s Motihari Saturday, workers and engineers prepared for a long-awaited moment. Two cranes, each with a capacity of around 750 tonnes, carefully lifted a colossal black-granite monolith weighing about 210 metric tonnes and inched it towards a nearby pedestal. Guided by engineers, the 33-foot structure was lowered inch by inch onto a base nearly twice its height. As the Shivling settled into place, the grounds reverberated with chants of “Har Har Mahadev.” Moments later, a helicopter showered flower petals on the newly installed symbol of Lord Shiva, drawing cheers from thousands of onlookers. The installation of the Sahasralingam—described as the world’s largest Shivling—in Motihari took place at the under-construction temple complex in Kathwalia village of Kalyanpur block on Magh Krishna Chaturdashi, an auspicious date in the Hindu calendar, amid Vedic chants.

Source: Indian Express January 28, 2026 08:45 UTC