Several states and the central government are marking the upcoming inauguration of the Ayodhya Ram Temple, known as ‘Pran Pratishtha,’ with holidays or half-day closures on January 22nd. This significant Hindu event is expected to see widespread celebrations across India.
Following suit, the Department of Personnel and Training announced on Thursday that all central government offices will observe a half-day closure on January 22nd in honor of the Ram Lalla idol’s Pran Pratishtha ceremony. “To enable employees to participate in the celebrations,” the department’s memo stated, “central government offices, institutions, and industrial establishments across India will be closed for half-day, until 2:30 pm, on January 22nd.”
Marking the Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22nd, several states have announced partial closures or holidays:
- Tripura: All government offices and educational institutions will remain closed until 2:30 pm on January 22, allowing participation in the celebrations of Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya. Asim Sahai, Deputy Secretary to the Government of Tripura, issued the order.
- Chhattisgarh: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai declared that all government offices in Chhattisgarh will be closed until 2:30 pm on January 22, acknowledging the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
- Uttar Pradesh: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed the closure of educational institutions, and liquor shops will remain closed statewide on that day.
- Madhya Pradesh: Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced a school holiday, encouraging people to celebrate the day like a festival. A dry day has been declared, closing all types of shops, including liquor and Bhang outlets.
- Goa: The Goa government declared a holiday for government employees and schools on January 22 due to the ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.
- Haryana: The Haryana government announced school closures on January 22 in light of the Ram Temple Inauguration. Liquor consumption will not be permitted anywhere in the state on the day of the consecration ceremony.
- Odisha: All Odisha government offices will close for half a day on January 22 for the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya. The closure extends to revenue and magisterial courts (executive) until 2:30 pm.
- Assam: The Assam government, in light of the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, has declared a half-holiday on January 22. State government offices and educational institutions will remain closed until 2:30 PM to observe this significant occasion.
- Rajasthan: On January 22, the Rajasthan government announced a half-day holiday in the state to mark the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma conveyed this decision during the BJP Legislature Party meeting held at the party’s headquarters.
- Gujarat: To commemorate the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, all government offices in Gujarat will be closed for half a day on January 22. The state government issued a notification late on Thursday night, stating the closure of offices until 2:30 pm on the said date.
- Madhya Pradesh: To commemorate the dedication of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22, all government offices and institutions in the state would be closed for half a day, officials announced on Friday. Late on Thursday night, the state government announced that offices would be closed until 2:30 pm on January 22.