The Madhya Pradesh government has issued a notification declaring the closure of all government offices until 2:30 pm on January 22 in observance of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The official notice released on Thursday stated, “The state government hereby declares a half-day holiday in all government offices on January 22, 2024 (Monday) till 02.30 pm on the occasion of Pran Pratishtha program of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya.”
Earlier today, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav initiated the departure of trucks carrying 5 Lakh Laddus as prasad from Baba Mahakal city, Ujjain, to Ayodhya for the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ram Mandir. The Chief Minister flagged off the trucks from Manas Bhawan in the state capital, Bhopal, on Friday. The Mahakaleshwar Temple Management Committee, responding to CM Yadav’s call, prepared 5 lakh laddus and packaged them for dispatch to Ayodhya on the consecration ceremony day, January 22.
In an official statement, the Chief Minister’s office mentioned, “CM Yadav flagged off the prasad rath of 5 lakh laddus being sent by the Mahakaleshwar Temple Management Committee, Ujjain to Ayodhya on the occasion of the consecration of Lord Ram. The CM showed the flag at Manas Bhawan in the state capital Bhopal.”
Simultaneously, the idol of Lord Ram Lalla was ceremoniously placed within the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Thursday. Covered with a veil, the initial photograph of the idol was unveiled during the placement ceremony. The idol, carved by renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj from Karnataka, stands at 51 inches tall and weighs 1.5 tonnes. It depicts Lord Ram as a five-year-old child standing on a lotus crafted from the same stone.
The Pran Pratishtha ceremony is scheduled for January 22 in Ayodhya, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducting rituals to mark the occasion. Lakshmikant Dixit and a team of priests will lead the main rituals, and the ceremony will witness the participation of various celebrities and notable personalities.