The auspicious Ram Mandir was inaugurated today, January 22, 2024. In commemoration of the opening of the Ram Mandir, several states have announced a public holiday. All the schools and colleges are closed in several parts of the country.
If reports are to be believed, almost 8,000 official invites were sent by the trust. Several notable celebrities, politicians, and other well-known dignitaries from around the world became part of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony on January 22.
In addition, a few states have declared January 22 to be a dry day. To preserve law and order, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that alcohol stores will be closed throughout the state on account of the Ram temple’s “Pran Pratishtha” celebration.
The Excise Commissioner of Uttar Pradesh released a notice that stated, “You are aware that on January 22, 2024, there will be a Pran Pratishtha ceremony in the Ram Mandir at Shri Ram’s birthplace in Ayodhya. Given the above, under government order no. 11-01-2024, it has been decided that all the liquor shops in the state will remain closed on January 22, 2024.
The licensee will not be entitled to any compensation or claim for the closure. Please ensure compliance accordingly.” The notice will also apply to all the wine shops as well.
Which States will observe Dry Day?
The Rajasthan government has also announced ‘dry day’ in the state on January 22. There are over 7,000 liquor shops and bars in the state of Rajasthan, and all of them will remain closed on the day of Pran Pratishtha.
The notice by the Rajasthan government read, “Due to the consecration ceremony of Lord Shri Ram in the temple being built at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya, January 22, 2024, has been declared a dry day in the entire state. Liquor shops will remain closed throughout the day on this day.
The closing time of liquor shops in Rajasthan is fixed at 8 p.m. In such a situation, liquor shops will be closed at 8 p.m. on January 21 and will open in the morning on January 23,” the order stated.
Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, also declared January 22 to be a dry day. To commemorate the dedication of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the Vishnu Deo Sai-led government of Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand has also proclaimed a dry day.
Dry Day for 6 days in Delhi
For six days, Delhi will have dry days, according to the Delhi excise department. The official notice stated that the following dates will be dry days, meaning that alcohol sales will not be permitted: Republic Day (January 26), Guru Ravidas Jayanti (February 24), Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti (March 6), Maha Shivaratri (March 8), Holi (March 25), and Good Friday (March 29). But the Delhi government has given no statement regarding Dry Day on January 22.