Uttar Pradesh declares additional holiday for Ram Navami on March 27

The Uttar Pradesh government has announced an additional public holiday on March 27 to mark the festival of Ram Navami, according to an official statement released on Wednesday, citied by PTI.

Earlier, March 26 had already been declared a holiday for the occasion. The decision to extend the holiday by one more day comes in view of the increasing number of devotees visiting temples across the state during the festive period.

“The decision has been taken keeping in mind the growing number of devotees visiting temples during the festival and to ensure their convenience,” the statement said, according to the PTI reported.

This year, Ashtami and Navami are also overlapping, and there is a large segment of people who will be celebrating Ram Navami on March 27, TOI reported.

In a related development, the holiday schedule for courts has also been revised. While courts were initially set to remain closed on March 26, they will now function as usual on that day. Instead, all courts across the state will remain closed on March 27, according to a NDTV reported.

Meanwhile, authorities have stepped up security arrangements across Uttar Pradesh ahead of the festival. Heavy crowds are expected at major religious centres such as Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Mathura.

Police and administrative officials have been given strict instructions to maintain law and order, ensure proper crowd control, and avoid any disruption. Preparations are also underway at temples, focusing on cleanliness, decorations, security measures, and facilities for visitors.