In the wake of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ (consecration) ceremony of the Ayodhya temple, the Goa government declared January 22nd as a holiday for government servants and the schools are to remain shut.
During a presser after a cabinet meeting held on Wednesday in Panaji, Chief Minister of Goa Pramod Sawant said “There will be public holiday only for government servants along with schools,” adding that the day should be celebrated like Diwali, and hence, the government has taken this decision.
“No holiday for private institutions”, he said.
According to reports, several programs appealing to the people to celebrate the ceremony are carried out in the coastal state.
The move comes in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to all Indians to light a ‘Shri Ram Jyoti’ lamp in their houses as a form of celebration of the temple inauguration, like that of Diwali, on December 30.
The declaration by the government of Goa comes after the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, declared a holiday for all educational institutions on the inaugural day, across the state where the ceremony will take place. He said that there would be no sale of liquor and Deepotsav would be celebrated in every temple on the day.
The grand inauguration of the temple will see a massive gathering, including several film and sports personalities, artists, ministers, politicians, and many others.
According to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, the temple premises will make arrangements for 10,000-15,000 attendees.
