The department has made it clear that the Durga Puja holidays are limited to October 10 to 12.
The Durga Puja holiday that schools observe has caused controversy in Bihar. The Education Department has declined to grant the teachers’ requested leave, which was scheduled to run from October 7 to 12. The department has made it clear that the Durga Puja holidays are limited to October 10 to 12. On Friday, a significant social media campaign was started in favour of the teachers’ demand. Teachers petitioned the state administration to reinstate the vacations under the hashtag #RestorePoojaVacations; as a result, this trend made headlines for a few hours. The administration has been pressured by teacher organisations to extend the leave from October 7 to October 12. Union Minister Giriraj Singh had also penned a letter to the administration, requesting an extension of the leave in this regard. Teachers claim that since the entire state celebrates this occasion with considerable fanfare, a lengthy leave of absence is required.
Using the General Administration Department’s calendar as justification, the Education Department has declined to prolong the holiday. They state that there is currently no plan to prolong the holiday, which will only go from October 10 to October 12. Teachers all around the state are furious about this. Arvind Nishad, a spokesman for the JDU, responded to Giriraj Singh’s remarks by joking that the Union Minister ought to set up fruit food for the entire state if he truly understood the significance of Navratri and Chhath. Political circles are much more tense now because of this statement, and the two parties are at odds over it.
This year, as per Drik Panchang Mahalaya will lead Durga Puja on October 2, 2024. The major festivals of Durga Puja include Maha Panchami on October 8, Maha Shashthi on October 9, Maha Saptami on October 10, Maha Ashtami on October 11, Maha Navami on October 12, and Dussehra on October 12.
