Chhath Puja Holiday: Holiday for Chhath in Delhi on November 16; will schools also remain closed?

Chhath Puja Holiday: All government offices in Delhi will remain closed on Monday, November 16. An order to this effect has been issued by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, declaring a public holiday on November 16 for the festival of Chhath. Every year, thousands of people gather along the banks of the Yamuna River in Delhi to perform Chhath Puja, leading to significant crowds. Consequently, this announcement of a holiday comes as a welcome relief for the millions of residents in the city. Additionally, this provides people with a long weekend, extending from Saturday through Monday.

Will schools also remain closed?
The notification issued by the Lieutenant Governor declares a public holiday on November 16. This implies that, along with government offices, schools and colleges may also remain closed, although schools are not explicitly mentioned in the notification. It states that there will be a holiday on November 16—on the occasion of Chhath Puja—for all government offices, autonomous bodies, PSUs, and other establishments.

States with a public holiday for Chhath Puja
In Bihar, November 16 is a public holiday for Chhath Puja, with schools and offices remaining closed. November 15 falls on a Sunday. Furthermore, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Assam, and West Bengal have declared a public holiday on November 15. In Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Punjab, Chhath Puja is categorized as a "restricted holiday." This means it is not a mandatory government holiday; instead, government employees have the option to avail of a restricted holiday at their own discretion.

Why has a holiday been declared in Delhi for Chhath Puja on November 16?
According to the order issued by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, a public holiday will be observed in all government offices on November 16, the auspicious occasion of Chhath Puja. Since thousands of people gather at the banks of the Yamuna to perform rituals—resulting in large crowds—this holiday serves as a significant relief for the public.

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