Ram Mandir Inauguration: Himachal Announces Holiday, First Congress-Ruled State To Do So

The Congress-led government under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has officially declared a public holiday in Himachal Pradesh on Monday (January 22) to mark the Pran Pratishtha ceremony. Notably, Himachal Pradesh has become the first among the three Congress-ruled states to announce a holiday for this historic occasion. However, the ruling Congress is yet to declare a holiday in Karnataka and Telangana.

In Himachal Pradesh, all educational institutions (schools, colleges, and universities) along with state government offices will remain closed. The government's notification states, "The full day of January 22, 2024 (Monday) shall be observed as a public holiday in all departments/boards/corporations/schools/colleges/universities, etc. of the Himachal Pradesh government on the occasion of Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha at Ayodhya."

This decision follows days after Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury declined the invitation for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony. The move by Congress leaders has ignited a political controversy, with the ruling BJP asserting that the grand old party has presented an "anti-Lord Ram face" to the nation.

Several states, including Goa, Haryana, Odisha, Rajasthan, Assam, and Madhya Pradesh, have also announced a half-day holiday on the day of the ceremony, with government offices closing until 2:30 PM.

The Pran Pratishtha ceremony for the idol of Ram Lalla, crafted by Mysore-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj, is scheduled to take place around 12:20 PM on Monday, with the presence of nearly 7,000 guests from the nation and foreign countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will serve as the main "yajman" at the ceremony, joined by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Governor Anandiben Patel, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and the temple's trustees in the garbha griha of the Ram Mandir.