Modi asks Cabinet colleagues to celebrate Ram temple consecration like Diwali

Half day for all Central govt offices on Jan 22 

PTI, New Delhi, Jan 18, 2023 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked his Cabinet colleagues to celebrate the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration ceremony on January 22 like Diwali by lighting up diyas at their homes and also feed the poor, sources said.

He made these remarks at the Union Cabinet meeting amid a nationwide religious fervour in the run-up to the ceremony which he will be attending.

Cabinet ministers, sources said, have also been urged to visit the temple along with devotees from their respective states after January 22.

With the exercise by Hindutva organisations to mobilise the masses ahead of the ceremony drawing positive response, the BJP-led NDA believes the event will add to the popular appeal for the temple and may help it in the Lok Sabha elections expected in April-May.

The BJP has already mobilised its members across the country to facilitate people’s visit to Ayodhya and stay in the holy town after the ceremony.

It deserves mention here that all Central government offices across the country will remain closed for half a day on January 22, due to the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, a Personnel Ministry order issued on Thursday said.

The 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of the new idol of Ram Lalla at the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple is scheduled for Monday. The ceremony is set to be performed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"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," it said in the order issued to all Central government ministries/ departments. When contacted, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh told news agency PTI that the decision has been taken in view of the "overwhelming" public sentiments.

"There was a huge public demand across the country regarding this. Decision on half-day closure of Central government offices on January 22 has been taken in view of overwhelming public sentiments," he said.