The central government has granted half-day leave for its staff to celebrate the consecration ceremony at Ayodhya Ram Mandir on January 22. According to reports, the government took the decision owing to ‘overwhelming’ demand.
In an order issued by the Ministry of Personnel, the department said, “The Ram Lalla Pran Prathishtha at Ayodhya will be celebrated on 22nd January, 2024, across India. 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 14.30 hrs on 22nd January, 2024.”
The pran pratishtha ceremony of the new idol of Ram Lalla at the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple is scheduled for Monday. The ceremony is set to be performed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh told PTI that the decision has been taken in view of the "overwhelming" public sentiments. "There was a huge public demand across the country regarding this. Decision on half-day closure of central government offices on January 22 has been taken in view of overwhelming public sentiments," he said.
Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh government banned the sale of meat, fish and liquor on January 22.
On Thursday, the Ram Lalla idol was installed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Mandir.
-with PTI inputs.
