Many banks as well as central government offices will observe a half-day closure on January 22 to celebrate the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya. As per an official communique, all public sector banks, insurance companies, financial institutions and regional rural banks will remain closed. The development came mere hours after a Department of Personnel and Training order announced the closure of central government offices till 02:30 pm on Monday.
“To enable employees to participate in the celebrations, it has been decided that all Central Government Offices, Central Institutions and Central Industrial Establishments throughout India will be closed for half day till 1430 hours on January 22,” explains a PIB press note.
The DOPT order also applies to public sector financial institutions and RRBs to enable employees to participate the Ram Lalla pran pratishtha celebration. Various activities have been planned by organisations and groups of people across India and abroad to coincide with the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya.
The new idol of Lord Ram was placed in the sanctum sanctorum of Ayodhya’s Ram Janmabhoomi temple on Thursday afternoon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will perform the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of the new idol on Monday alongside a team of priests.
The rituals for the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony began on Tuesday and will continue for seven days. Thousands of VIP guests have received invitations from the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for the ceremony. Ayodhya is marking an Amrit Mahotsav from January 14 to January 22.
Temple trust general secretary Champat Rai told reporters on Monday that the consecration ceremony will begin at 12:20 pm and is expected to be completed by 1 pm on January 22.
Central govt half-day closure
The Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) issued an order on Thursday, mandating a half-day closure for central government establishments on Monday. The order extends to central government offices, institutions, and industrial establishments throughout India and will be in effect until 2:30pm on January 22. The ministry of finance confirmed that the same applies to public sector banks, insurance companies, financial institutions, and RRBs.
Several state governments have taken similar steps to honour the historic event.
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has given instructions for a statewide holiday in all educational institutions on January 22. He said the liquor shops would also remain shut in the state on the day of the ceremony.
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav has announced that all schools will remain closed on January 22, encouraging people to celebrate the day like a festival. Yadav also declared a dry day in the state on the day of the consecration ceremony.
“Keeping in view the public sentiments, we have decided that January 22 will be a dry day in the state. All types of shops including liquor, and Bhang outlets will remain closed,” Yadav wrote on X.
Rajasthan
Rajasthan government has declared a half-day holiday in the state in view of the consecration ceremony of Ram temple. Cabinet Minister Kanhaiya Lal Choudhary said that he has sent a request to the chief minister to change it to a full-day leave on January 22.
Chhattisgarh
The Chhattisgarh government has declared January 22 as a holiday for all state government schools and colleges.
“The whole world knows Siyaram. I salute you as much as I can. There will be a holiday in all government and non-government schools and colleges of Chhattisgarh on 22 January, the day of the consecration of Prabhu Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya,” Chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai said in a social media post on X.
Haryana
The Haryana government has also announced the closure of schools and a dry day on the occasion of the consecration ceremony.
Assam
The state of Assam announced a half-holiday for all government offices and educational institutions until 2:30pm.
Tripura
The government of Tripura also announced that all state government offices and educational institutions in the state will remain closed until 2:30pm on January 22.
Goa
The Goa government has declared a public holiday for government employees on January 22.
Legal fraternity requests judicial holiday
Chairman of the Bar Council of India, Manan Kumar Mishra, has requested Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud to declare a judicial holiday across all courts on January 22. This request is to ensure that the legal fraternity can also participate in the Ayodhya Ram Mandir ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony.
