Bhubaneswar, March 26 -- In a move reflecting public sentiment, the government of Uttar Pradesh led by Yogi Adityanath has announced an additional public holiday on March 27, extending the Ram Navami break to two days, while the Odisha government has also declared a holiday on March 27 to facilitate smooth celebrations.

March 26 had already been observed as a holiday for Ram Navami in Uttar Pradesh. Officials said the extension was necessitated due to a surge in the number of devotees thronging temples during the festive period, with the aim of easing crowd pressure and ensuring convenience for worshippers.

In Odisha, authorities are expecting large gatherings at major temples across cities such as Bhubaneswar, Puri and Cuttack. The one...