Central government offices will observe a half-day closure on Ram Mandir's Pran Pratistha day on January 22. The decision has been taken in view of overwhelming public sentiments, the centre announced on Thursday.

"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 a day till 1430 hours on 22nd January 2024," it said in the order issued to all central government ministries/ departments.

 Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said "All central govt offices are to be closed for half day on Jan 22 given 'Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha' in Ayodhya" adding that the decision has been taken given the "overwhelming" public sentiments.

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"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.

Given the Pran Pratistha ceremony, other than offices, schools and other state institutions in several states have also declared public holiday. Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Chattisgarh and Haryana schools will remain closed on Jan 22.

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 temple 'Pran Pratishtha' will begin at 12.20 pm on January 22 and is expected to end by 1 pm. On the day of the consecration, the minimum essential rituals needed for the 'Pran Pratishtha' of the idol of Ram Lalla will be conducted.