Bhubaneswar: Odisha government has announced that all schools, colleges and universities under it will remain closed on Monday on account of Rath Yatra.
The Information and Public Relations department in a press release on Saturday said all colleges and universities under the jurisdiction of the Higher Education department will remain closed on July 8 (Monday) due to Rath Yatra.
The School and Mass Education department on Friday had announced that all government schools, government-aided schools and private schools will remain closed on Monday.
Earlier, the state government had declared holiday for its offices, courts and banks on the same day.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had announced two-day leave for the government employees after attending a preparatory meeting on Rath Yatra in Puri on July 2.
He was apprised at the meeting that pulling of three chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra would start in the evening of Rath Yara day on Sunday as the rituals for two other festivals on the same day would have to be performed. Since the chariot pulling cannot be completed on the same day, it would continue next day on Monday.
