Odisha govt declares two-day holiday for Diwali

Bhubaneswar, Oct 18 (PTI) Odisha government declared a two-day holiday for Diwali this year, according to a notification issued on Saturday.

The government had earlier declared October 21 as the Diwali holiday.

In the fresh notification, it has also declared October 20 as a holiday for Diwali.

“This year, state government employees will get a two-day holiday for Diwali. However, they have to work on October 25, which is a fourth Saturday,” Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari said.

He said employees in Nuapada will not get a holiday on October 20, as that is the last date for filing of nomination papers for the November 11 bypoll.

Pujari said October 20 was declared a holiday based on the recommendations made by the Puri Jagannath Temple’s Mukti Mandap

Pandit Mahasabha, which stated that key rituals, including ‘Paya Shradha’, will begin that afternoon. PTI AAM AAM SOM