Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu lights diyas as 24-hour ‘Akhand Path’ begins at Ram Mandir

Shimla : The 24-hour ‘Akhand Path’ at Ram Mandir Shimla began here today after Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu paid obeisance at the temple and lighted the Diyas. He prayed for the prosperity of the state and said that Lord Rama is our ideal.
The Chief Minister also announced a public holiday in the state for 22nd January, 2024 on the occasion of consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla idol in Ayodhya. The ‘Akhand Path’, involving five Pandits, is scheduled to conclude on Monday at 10 am.
While interacting with the journalists, the Chief Minister said that Lord Rama does not belong to any particular party, rather he is the ideal of the entire country and our culture. He appealed to everyone to follow the path shown by Lord Rama.
“The consecration ceremony of Ram temple is being organized in Ayodhya on Monday and on this occasion I will light a lamp in my house and encourage others to do the same,” stated the Chief Minister, asking everyone to imbibe the characteristics of Rama, and the values and lessons of Ramayana in one’s life.
Responding to a query, Sh. Sukhu said that he would definitely visit Ayodhya in near future. He added that Lord Rama is considered incomplete without Shri Hanuman Ji and therefore a statue of Lord Rama would be erected along with the statue of Shri Hanuman Ji in Jakhu as proposed by Sood Sabha.
Chief Minister’s Political Advisor Sunil Sharma, Chief Minister’s Principal Advisor (Media) Naresh Chauhan, Mayor Shimla Surender Chauhan, Deputy Mayor Shimla Uma Kaushal, Deputy Commissioner Aditya Negi, Congress leader Devender Bushahri, Sood Sabha President Rajiv Sood and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.