Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Saturday declared October 20 as an additional holiday for Diwali across the state, except bypoll-bound Nuapada district.
The state government had earlier announced October 21 as a holiday for the festival of lights.
With the fresh notification issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management department, there will be two holidays for Diwali on October 20 and 21.
However, in Nuapada district, offices will remain open in view of the upcoming Assembly by-election.
Though the previously declared holiday on 21 October will remain effective, all banks and other banking institutions will remain open on that day.
This decision modifies earlier notifications issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department.
As per the notification issued on Saturday, to accommodate the additional holiday on October 20, the state has rescheduled the fourth Saturday, October 25, as a working day.
Notably, the Revenue Department had earlier proposed October 20 as a public holiday for Diwali, awaiting approval from the Chief Minister.
This suggestion followed recommendations made by the Puri Shree Jagannath Temple’s Mukti Mandap Pandit Mahasabha, which had stated that key rituals including ‘Paya Shradha’ begin in the afternoon of October 20.
The religious body had noted that celebrations observed on October 21, as suggested in some traditional calendars, do not align with established Hindu norms.
The government’s decision now reconciles the official calendar with astrological calculations and religious practices.
