Navaratri Puja: State government announces public holiday tomorrow

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has declared a public holiday tomorrow on account of Navaratri Puja. Earlier, the holiday was limited to educational institutions alone.

The government had earlier decided to grant a holiday to educational institutions on October 11 based on the request made by the National Teachers' Union (NTU).

Since the Puja ceremonies commence only by Thursday evening, there was a demand to declare October 11 also as a holiday. The minister declared the holiday following this. October 10 was already declared a Puja holiday in the government calendar, but October 11 was not declared a holiday. The National Teachers' Council submitted a petition stating that conducting classes in schools after the commencement of puja on October 10th is not appropriate.