A four-day nationwide holiday has started today, combining the biggest festival of the Hindu community, Durga Puja, and the weekend holidays.
The interim government declared a public holiday across the country on Thursday, October 10, in observance of Durga Puja through an executive order. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification regarding this on Tuesday, October 8.
The notification states that all government, semi-government, autonomous, semi-autonomous, and private offices will remain closed during the public holiday. However, essential services such as electricity, water, gas, and other utilities, fire services, port operations, sanitation, telecommunications, internet, postal services, and related vehicles and workers will remain outside the purview of the holiday.
It also mentions that hospitals, emergency services, and workers associated with these services will not be affected by the holiday. Doctors, medical staff, and vehicles carrying medical supplies and workers will also be excluded. Additionally, offices engaged in urgent work will remain open.
According to the government’s holiday calendar, October 11 and 12 (Friday and Saturday) are the weekend holidays, and October 13 (Sunday) is a holiday for Durga Puja. As a result, a continuous four-day holiday begins today.
