The Finance Ministry has released a circular stating that banks nationwide will be closed on January 22 due to the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir.
The consecration ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir will take place on January 22. In light of this significant event, the Ministry of Finance has issued a directive instructing all banks to remain closed on Monday.
On Thursday, the ministry announced that banks nationwide will observe a half-day closure until 2:30 pm on January 22. The directive includes the closure of all public sector banks (PSBs), insurance companies, financial institutions, and regional rural banks during this period.
Additionally, the central government has declared a half-day working schedule for all central government employees on Monday. This directive applies to all central government offices, institutions, and industrial establishments in light of the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir.
The Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) has released an order permitting employees to partake in the ‘Pran Pathishtha’ festivities of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The DOPT order states, “The celebration of Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya is scheduled for 22nd January 2024 across India. To facilitate employees’ participation 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 until 2:30 pm on 22nd January 2024.”
The notification from the finance ministry on Thursday clarified that the DOPT order, facilitating half-day closure for employees to partake in the Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha celebrations, will extend to public sector banks, insurance companies, financial institutions, and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs).
Ram Mandir ‘Pran Prathishtha’ ceremony
On Monday, January 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will perform the ‘Pran Prathishtha’ ceremony for the new idol of Ram Lalla at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. The idol was installed in the sanctum sanctorum on Thursday. Preceding the celebrations, the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra initiated a 7-day series of Vedic rituals and ceremonies. States including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Goa have declared a public holiday on January 22, with schools and government offices closed.