Ram Mandir news Highlights: Banks across India to remain closed half-day on Jan 22

Ayodhya Ram Mandir news LIVE: In alignment with the closure of central government offices, banks throughout India will observe a half-day closure on January 22 for the 'Pran Patishtha' ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, ANI reported.

As per a notification by the Department of Financial Services under the Union Ministry of Finance on Thursday, this closure applies to Public Sector Banks, Public Sector Insurance Companies, Public Sector Financial Institutions, and Regional Rural Banks during the first half of January 22. The purpose is to allow employees to partake in the 'Ram Lalla' Pran Pratishtha celebrations.

Furthermore, a notification from the Department of Personnel and Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions earlier on Thursday stated that all central government offices, institutions, and industrial establishments nationwide will also remain closed for half a day until 02:30 pm.

Ayodhya Ram Mandir news LIVE: There are plans underway to initiate bus services by the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) on six routes to aid devotees in visiting the Ram Temple, announced deputy chief minister Mukesh Agnihotri on Thursday, according to PTI. Following the 155th meeting of the HRTC Board of Directors, Agnihotri, who oversees the transport portfolio, addressed a press conference, stating that despite the considerable length of the route, negotiations are ongoing with the relevant state government to commence the bus services.

Ayodhya Ram Mandir news LIVE: The Kerala BJP called upon the Left-led government on Thursday to declare a holiday for its institutions on January 22 in observance of the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, PTI reported. BJP state chief K Surendran emphasised that the state government should follow the example set by the Central government, which has declared a holiday for its institutions until 2:30 pm on January 22.

Ayodhya Ram Mandir news LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asked his Cabinet colleagues to mark the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration ceremony on January 22 with the same enthusiasm as Diwali, PTI reported. He suggested lighting diyas at their homes and urged them to engage in charitable activities, such as feeding the poor. The remarks were made during the Union Cabinet meeting, coinciding with the heightened religious fervour across the nation leading up to the ceremony, which the Prime Minister is scheduled to attend.

Ayodhya Ram Mandir news LIVE: The Jharkhand BJP has called upon the Hemant Soren-led administration to declare January 22 as a state holiday in observance of the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, PTI reported. In a communication addressed to the chief minister on Thursday, Amar Kumar Bauri, the opposition leader in the Jharkhand assembly and a senior BJP figure, urged Soren to pay tribute to Lord Ram by officially declaring January 22 as a state holiday.

Ayodhya Ram Mandir news LIVE: As part of the prelude to the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple on January 22, rituals including 'Ganesh Pujan' and 'Varun Pujan' are scheduled for Thursday, as stated by a priest, according to PTI. The idol of Ram Lalla was brought into the temple's sanctum sanctorum on Wednesday night, accompanied by a 'Kalash Pujan' earlier in the day. Commencing on Tuesday, the rituals are set to persist until January 21, according to Champat Rai, the general secretary of the Ram temple trust.

Ayodhya Ram Mandir news LIVE: Delhi's traditional wedding bands are preparing for a bustling day on January 22, as numerous celebratory events are scheduled at temples across the city to mark the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, PTI reported.

Industry experts estimate over 1,500 such events in markets and temples, with wedding bands being hired to perform devotional songs and bhajans, intensifying the religious and festive atmosphere. These festivities align with the commencement of the wedding season in Delhi, resulting in wedding bands facing an influx of booking requests, surpassing their usual capacity, yet they are trying to accommodate all requests.

Assam's Kamakhya Temple will light up with a thousand earthen lamps on January 22 to mark the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, revealed the temple's head priest Kabindra Prasad Sarma on Thursday, reported news agency ANI.

The priest also highlighted how the temple had been supporting the construction of the Ram Janmbhoomi Temple.

"Maa Kamakhya Devalaya has extended full support to the Pran Pratishtha programme of the Ram Temple. We sent the holy water and soil of Kamakhya temple to Ram temple when the construction work started and again we sent water and soil for the Pran Pratishtha of Ram temple through Vishwa Hindu Parishad," said the head priest.

Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav's daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav on Thursday said that had he been alive he would have surely attended the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram Janmbhoomi Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, reported news agency PTI.

"I think he would have definitely gone if he had been alive," said Aparna.

Arun Yogiraj is the sculptor who has created the idol to be installed at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22. His wife Vijetha has highlighted the lifestyle changes that Yogiraj adopted while crafting the idol.

Vijetha revealed that her husband embraced a 'lifestyle akin to that of a sage', observing a six-month-long fast with a diet limited to 'satvik bhojan', fruits, and sprouts, reported news agency ANI.

DMK leader and Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Thursday said his party is not against the Ram temple at Ayodhya but is opposed to the shrine being built after "demolishing a mosque" reported news agency PTI.

"We don't have a problem with a temple coming up there. We are not in agreement with the construction of a temple after demolishing a mosque," the DMK Youth Wing chief said, referring to the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. "

650 e-carts will be deployed till March to ferry devotees visiting Ayodhya to offer prayers at the Ram temple and the Hanuman Garhi temple, officials said on Thursday, reported news agency PTI. The e-carts will offer free rides to the elderly, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women while fare will be charged to other people.

The Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) has invited several corporate houses to contribute to the e-cart project through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.

Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust will distribute 10,000 bangles among women devotees on January 22. The bangles reached Ayodhya on Thursday, reported news agency PTI.

"Firozabad is famous for its glass industry. Its bangles are famous everywhere. These bangles have no joints and are polished with gold. They have been brought by Firozabad traders and 10,000 bangles have been formally handed over to the temple trust. They will be distributed among devotees by the trust," Uttar Pradesh Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh told reporters.

Ayodhya Ram Mandir news LIVE: Central government offices nationwide will observe a half-day closure in light of the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, as directed by a Personnel Ministry order issued on Thursday, PTI reported. The 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony, during which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will perform the consecration of the new idol of Ram Lalla in the temple's sanctum sanctorum, is scheduled for Monday.

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

Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Vijay Shankar Tiwari on Thursday jibed at Congress MP Jairam Ramesh after the latter called the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya 'misuse of dharma'.

"... It is said that one must protect the Dharma and the Dharma will protect them. Jairam Ramesh does not know the meaning of Dharma. He would not have made such a statement if he understood it... I challenge Jairam Ramesh to show me at least one constitution in the world that does not include the 10 principles of Dharma... First, he should learn the definition of Dharma and then say anything..." said Tiwari as quoted by ANI.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sent a high-level team to Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya to deal with cyber threats ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram Janmbhoomi Temple on January 22, reported news agency ANI.

Reportedly, the joint team includes officials of MHA's Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITy), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and other experts in cyber matters.

Uttar Pradesh government has banned the sale of meat, fish on January 22, the day on which the Pran Pratishtha ceremony will take place at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Hindus and devotees in Nepal are extremely excited for the the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22. The Janaki temple in Nepal's Janakpur - believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram’s wife Janaki alias Seeta, will celebrate the auspicious event with multiple cultural and religious festivities, reported news agency PTI.

Houses and streets of Janakpur are being decorated with colourful lights, paper flags, banners and garlands, local authorities said. Ganga Aarti, Ramkatha, as well as religious procession, have been planned to mark the occasion.

The holy town of Ayodhya has been decked up with lights, adorned with colourful 'AYODHYA' signage, banners with image of Lord Ram, designs depicting Lord Ram holding his bow and arrow or the 'Ramanandi tilak', reported news agency PTI. Two main streets- Ram Path and Dharm Path have also been beautified.

Residents of Noida's Jaypee Wish Town in Sector 128 to 131 will light 111,111 lamps on January 22, which is the day of the culmination of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The residents will also hold a procession around 9am, followed by live screening of the consecration ceremony event. More details here

Several states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana have closed their schools on January 22 in view of the consecration ceremony of Ram Mandir.

The 48-page stamp book released by PM Modi on Thursday, is an attempt to showcase the international appeal of Lord Ram. The book showcases stamps issued by more than 20 countries, including the United States, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, Cambodia, and even by international organisations such as the United Nations. More details here

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released commemorative postage stamps on Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir and a book of stamps issued on Lord Ram around the world, reported news agency ANI.

Components of the design include the Ram Mandir, Choupai 'Mangal Bhavan Amangal Hari', the Sun, the Sarayu River and sculptures in and around the temple.

Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra representatives will receive 'Onavillu', a traditional ceremonial bow from Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on Thursday, reported news agency ANI.

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple has references in epics and puranas. Srimad Bhagavatha says that Balarama visited this temple, bathed in Padmatheertham and made several offerings.