The Maharashtra government on Friday announced a public holiday on January 22, the day when the grand idol consecration ceremony will take place at the new Ram temple in Ayodhya.

A notification from the state government said exercising powers given by the Ministry of Home Affairs, it has decided to announce a public holiday on January 22.

The Centre has already announced that all its offices, institutions and industrial establishments throughout India will have half-day holiday for the Ram temple 'pran patishtha (consecration) ceremony.

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