Ayodhya Celebration: Half-Day Leave For All Central Government Employees On 22 January

Owing to the overwhelming sentiment and demands of employees to participate in the much-awaited celebrations, the union government has declared that all central government offices will remain closed for half day on 22 January on the occasion of the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

"The Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha 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 1430 hours on 22nd January, 2024,” an office memorandum issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) stated.

At 12.30 pm on 22 January, the pran-pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple will take place in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other dignitaries from all walks of life. The ceremonies began at the Ayodhya temple complex on 16 January, seven days before the D-day. Specific rituals are being performed every day ahead of the pran-pratishtha.

PM Modi on Thursday (18 January) released six special commemorative postage stamps dedicated to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple along with an album carrying similar stamps related to Lord Ram issued earlier in different countries of the world was also released.

The idol of Lord Ram arrived at the temple complex on Wednesday night — the second day of the pre-consecration rituals. It has been kept inside the sanctum sanctorum but not installed yet.

On Thursday, the third day of the rituals, the idol is supposed to be cleansed with water as part of the 'Jaladhivas' ritual and 'Ganesh Pujan' and 'Varun Pujan' will be held.

All railway stations across the country will be lit up on January 22 with diyas to mark the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.