Is There A Govt Holiday On January 22 For Ayodhya's Ram Temple Event?

The consecration of Ram Lalla in the newly built temple in Ayodhya will take place on January 22 and more than one lakh devotees are expected to attend the event to mark the occasion of 'pran pratishtha' (consecration) of the lord.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Opposition leaders will be attending the grand event in Ayodhya. As the nation gears up for the consecration of Ram Lalla, there is a growing demand to declare January 22 as a national holiday.

Several people on social media have started demanding the BJP government in the Centre to declare January 22 as a national holiday so that people across the country watch the historical occasion. Prime Minister Modi has urged the 140 crore people of the country to light the Ram Jyoti and celebrate Deepawali in their homes on January 22.

At a rally in Ayodhya, PM Modi said, "The whole world is waiting for the historic moment. With folded hands, I am requesting 140 crore people of the country that on January 22, when the consecration of Ramlalla's idol takes place, light the Ram Jyoti in your house and celebrate Deepawali. The entire country should sparkle with lights on the evening of January 22."

As the PM gave a call to the nation to light lamps on January 22, BJP leaders have called for a public holiday on the said date. He said, " The Ram temple at Ayodhya is being constructed after a long struggle of 500 to 600 years. The idol of Ramlalla will be installed at the temple in Ayodhya on January 22. Everybody will celebrate the day like Diwali festival. To enable people to participate in the celebrations, the government should announce January 22 as an official holiday."

"The temple construction has come after the relentless efforts undertaken by several lakh karsevaks. Several people sacrified their lives for the temple. The people have been awaiting this great moment anxiously." He asked the state government to direct the private companies to declare a holiday as well.

These demands have led to confusion that a holiday has been already declared on the said date.

However, neither the Centre nor any state governments has declared a holiday on January 22, so far. Even in Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath's government has not made any such announcement.