Maharashtra Announces Public Holiday on January 22 for Ayodhya Ram Temple Opening

The Maharashtra government has announced a public holiday on January 22 to mark the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The decision was made following a formal request by state Cabinet minister and BJP leader Mangal Prabhat Lodha. Initially, the state general administration had opposed the request, citing the lack of precedence for declaring public holidays for such events. However, the request was submitted to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s office for approval.

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In line with the central government’s announcement of a half-day holiday for all central government offices and institutions, the Maharashtra government has decided to observe a full-day public holiday. This decision aligns with the directives of other BJP-led states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Goa, where government offices and educational institutes will remain closed.

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Not only Maharashtra, but several other states, including Haryana and Puducherry, have also declared public holidays to mark the celebrations. Additionally, the Tripura government has announced a half-day holiday on January 22 in view of the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Similarly, all government offices in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh will remain closed for half a day to celebrate the consecration of the Ram temple.

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The ‘Pran Pratishtha‘ ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram Temple will be held on January 22 with grandeur. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and several other dignitaries are expected to attend the event. The ceremony will be led by a team of priests, and various celebrities and noted personalities have also been invited.