Ram Mandir 'Pran Pratistha': Half-day in central government offices, institutions on January 22

Digital Desk: The Center has declared that all national central government offices will be closed for half a day on Monday, January 22, in view of the opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on that day. "On January 22, 2024, people all over India will celebrate the Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha at Ayodhya. All central government offices, central institutions, and central industrial establishments across India will be closed for a half day until 1430 hours on January 22, 2024, to allow employees to take part in the festivities, according to a Personnel Ministry order released on Thursday.

The 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of the new idol of Ram Lalla at the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple is scheduled for Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to conduct the ceremony. Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State for Personnel, informed PTI that the decision was made in light of the "overwhelming" popular sentiments. "The populace demanded this in large numbers all across the nation. The decision to close central government offices for a half-day on January 22 was made in response to strong public opinion," he said.