Ayodhya Ram temple inauguration: Many states declare public holiday on January 22

Announcing a holiday for all educational institutions, Minister of State Brijmohan Agarwal, who holds the portfolios of Religious Trusts and Endowments, Schools and Higher Education as well as Culture and Tourism, said at a press conference that a weekly free holiday for Ayodhya would be allowed. Train travel scheme has also been planned. ,

“As per the promise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the people of Chhattisgarh will get the facility of free travel by train to Ayodhya for the darshan of Ram Lalla. The state government has signed an MoU with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) for this. There will be a weekly train under this scheme in which 850 to 1,000 devotees can travel to Ayodhya,” the minister said.

Aggarwal said, “Special care will be taken in the train for the elderly and disabled. They can travel with an assistant. There will be a doctor in the train. Arrangements for accommodation and food for the passengers will be made by the state government.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had also directed all educational institutions across the state to remain closed on January 22. The Chief Minister has declared January 22 as a dry day in the entire state. Liquor shops will remain closed across UP on that day.

“Keeping in mind the importance of the consecration ceremony of the eagerly awaited new idol of Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya Dham, the CM has declared a holiday in educational institutions on January 22,” an official release said.

Apart from UP, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday declared January 22 a public holiday in the state in view of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya.

“There will be a public holiday only for government employees along with schools,” Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said during a press conference after the cabinet meeting.

Maharashtra Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha has also written a letter to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde requesting him to declare January 22 as a public holiday in the state to commemorate the consecration of the Ayodhya Ram temple. They also demand that instructions should be given to everyone to celebrate ‘Deepotsav’ in the entire state.