Chief Minister Mohan Majhi announced that September 9 will be observed as a public holiday across Odisha in celebration of the Nuakhai festival. Nuakhai, an important agrarian festival in the region, falls on September 8 this year, which coincides with a Sunday. To ensure widespread participation in the festivities, Majhi declared the following Monday, September 9, as a public holiday.
As a result, all government offices, magisterial courts, schools, and colleges throughout the state will remain closed on this day.
In related news, Chief Minister Majhi recently launched the Subhadra scheme aimed at empowering women across Odisha. The initiative, targeting women aged 21 to 59, offers an annual financial assistance of ₹10,000 over five years, distributed in two installments directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts. This scheme is expected to benefit over one crore women across the state.
Meanwhile, in Gujarat, the state education department has granted schools and colleges the autonomy to declare holidays independently in response to local rainfall conditions, pending approval from relevant local authorities. This change comes in the wake of recent heavy rains in Ahmedabad, which led to the closure of several educational institutions, particularly in areas near the Khari River.
Additionally, several states in India will observe a three-day bank holiday from August 24 to August 26, 2024, due to Krishna Janmashtami celebrations. The holiday includes the fourth Saturday, Sunday, and the Janmashtami holiday on Monday. Citizens are encouraged to use digital banking services during this period.