The Maharashtra government has declared a public holiday on January 22 on the occasion of Ram temple inauguration at Ayodhya.
Central government establishments, public sector banks, insurance companies, financial institutions and regional rural banks (RRBs) across the country will also remain closed for half a day on January 22.
The idol of Lord Ram Lalla was placed inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple in Ram Temple, Ayodhya, on Thursday. Covered with a veil, the first photo of the idol was revealed during the placement ceremony in the sanctum sanctorum on Thursday.
The idol of ‘Ram Lalla’ is carved by Arun Yogiraj – a famed sculptor from Karnataka. The idol is 51 inches tall and weighs 1.5 tonnes. The idol portrays Lord Ram as a five-year-old child standing on a lotus also crafted from the same stone.
The Pran Pratishtha ceremony will be held in Ayodhya on January 22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will perform rituals to mark the ‘Pran Pratishtha’, a team of priests led by Lakshmikant Dixit will lead the main rituals. Several celebrities and noted personalities have also been invited to the ceremony.
Numerous states, government offices, and banks are granting holidays in light of the upcoming festivities. On January 22, several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Odisha, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Tripura, Assam, and Rajasthan, will observe either full or half-day closures of government offices and schools. PSU banks and courts, following the Department of Personnel and Training order, will have a half-day holiday. However, private sector banks and offices are yet to announce official holiday notices, urging employees to consult their HR departments for updates.
States already declaring holiday on January 22:
- Uttar Pradesh and Goa: Encourage Diwali-like celebrations; all educational institutions and government offices closed.
- Odisha: Half-day closure of state government offices and courts until 2:30 p.m.
- Gujarat: Half-day closure of government offices until 2:30 p.m.
- Madhya Pradesh: Public holiday for government offices and schools; closure of liquor and meat shops.
- Chhattisgarh: Public holiday; government and private schools closed.
- Haryana: Schools closed; liquor consumption prohibited.
- Tripura: Government offices and educational institutions closed until 2:30 p.m.
- Assam: Partial holiday until 2:30 p.m. for government offices and educational institutions.
- Rajasthan: Half-day holiday announced.
- Banks: PSU banks observe half-day holiday as per DOPT order.
- Courts: Assam courts closed for half a day; Bar Council requests a holiday for all courts.
- Government offices: Nationwide half-day closure for public sector banks, insurance companies, financial institutions, and RRBs.
Private sector banks and offices: No official notice; employees advised to inquire with their HR departments for updates.
