Priest who presided over Ram temple ceremony dies at 86 0 23.06.2024 13:07 «The Times of India» (indiatimes.com) Acharya Laxmikant Dixit, the chief priest who consecrated the Ram Lalla idol, passed away in Varanasi at 86. His lineage tradition connects to scholar Gaga Bhatt and the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji.