Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued directions asking all educational institutions in the state to remain closed on January 22 in view of the Ayodhya Ram Temple consecration ceremony. Additionally, all liquor shops will also remain closed across the state on the day to mark the occasion.

The decision comes in wake of the massive preparations underway for the consecration ceremony at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya which will have Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance. Tight security arrangements have been put in place to ensure that there are no untoward incidents during the ceremony. As many as 7,000 invitations have been sent out to notable personalities and celebrities for the event.

Government offices across the state will be decked up on January 22 and the CM has directed officials to adopt the ‘Kumbh Model’ of cleanliness in Ayodhya for the ceremony. A special cleanliness drive will be initiated in Ayodhya from January 14 ahead of the consecration ceremony.

The Chief Minister’s directions came during the Chief Minister’s visit to Ayodhya ahead of the ceremony. CM Adityanath landed at the recently inaugurated Maharshi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya earlier today and offered prayers at Ram Mandir ‘garbh griha’, as well as at Hanumangarhi Temple.

On Wednesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party will hold a meeting to take stock of the preparations for the grand opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The meeting, scheduled to be held at 11 am on Wednesday, will see senior leaders like BL Santosh, Sunil Bansal, Vinod Tawde, Tarun Chugh, Bhupendra Singh, and Dharm Pal in attendance.

(With inputs from agencies)