As the eagerly awaited 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony for the Ram temple in Ayodhya approaches on January 22, extensive preparations are in full swing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to be the chief guest at the event, which has garnered attendance from saints, celebrities, and politicians.

In anticipation of this historic occasion, the central government has declared a half-day closure for all government offices across the country. Several states have followed suit, announcing public holidays or half-day closures.

List of States Declaring Holiday on January 22:

1. Uttar Pradesh: All educational institutions closed; liquor shops shut.

2. Gujarat: Government offices closed for half a day.

3. Chhattisgarh: Government offices closed till 2:30

pm.

4. Madhya Pradesh: Schools closed for the day;

government offices shut till 2:30 pm; dry day declared.

5. Haryana: Schools closed; half-day holiday; dry day declared.

6. Odisha: Government offices, revenue, and magisterial courts closed till 2:30 pm.

7. Assam: Half-day holiday for government offices and educational institutions till 2:30 pm.

8. Uttarakhand: Government offices closed till 2:30 pm; educational institutions shut for the day.

9. Maharashtra: Public holiday declared on January 22.

10. Rajasthan: Half-day holiday for government offices.

11. Goa: Government offices and educational institutions closed for the day.

12. Tripura: Government offices and educational institutions closed till 2:30 pm.

13. Chandigarh: All offices closed on January 22.

14. Puducherry: Public holiday declared.

In line with the grand occasion, the Ministry of Finance has directed the closure of all banks, including public sector banks, insurance companies, financial institutions, and regional rural banks, until 2:30 pm on January 22.