Ram Mandir Ayodhya inauguration: Several states declare holiday for schools, offices on January 22. Details here

Ram Mandir Ayodhya : The Vishnu Deo Sai government in Chhattisgarh on Thursday declared a holiday for all educational institutions across the state on January 22, on the occasion of the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

Declaring a holiday for all educational institutions, state minister Brijmohan Agrawal, who handles the religious trust and endowment, school and higher education as well as culture and tourism portfolios, said in a presser that a weekly free train travel scheme for Ayodhya has also been planned.

"As per Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promise, the people of Chhattisgarh will get to travel free by train to Ayodhya to have darshan of Ram Lalla. The state government will ink a memorandum of understanding with Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) for a weekly train in which 850 to 1,000 devotees can travel till Ayodhya as part of this scheme," the minister said.

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"Special care will be taken for the elderly and disabled on the train. They can travel with an assistant. There will be a doctor on board. Accommodation and food for the travellers will be arranged by the state government," Agrawal added.

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 also declared January 22 as a dry day across the state. Liquor shops will remain closed across UP on that day.

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"Considering the significance 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.

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

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“There will be a public holiday only for government servants 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 a public holiday in the state to mark the consecration of Ayodhya Ram temple. He also demands that instructions be given to everyone to celebrate 'Deepotsav' across the state.