The Bengal  government on Wednesday (November 2) converted a sectional holiday, Chhat puja on November 7, into a general holiday.

The additional holiday on Monday  allows state government employees to enjoy a long weekend like they did last week on the occasion of Kali Puja, Diwali and Bhai Phonta.

All government offices will remain closed on Monday, November 7, on account of Chhat puja, read a finance department notification issued on Wednesday.

This year, government offices remained closed for 11 days at a stretch during Durga Puja.

During Kali Puja, offices remained closed for four days as the government announced an additional holiday on Monday ahead of the Bhai Phonta leave on Tuesday.

“The government claims to be restoring the work culture after 34 years of Left rule. But such long holidays and revival of work culture can’t go hand in hand,” an official said.

Raining Holidays in Bengal

State government employees may have up to 16 days of continuous Puja holidays next year going by the holiday list notified on Wednesday.

The government has declared 31 days as holidays – that’s two more than this year.

The Puja holidays will be from September 27 (Saptami) to September 30 (Dashami), read a finance department notification. October 1 is a Sunday and October 2 is Gandhi Jayanti.

Three additional holidays “in connection with Durga Puja” have been announced – September 26 (Sashthi) and October 3 and 4.

October 5 is Lakshmi Puja and the next day has been declared a holiday followed by the weekend on October 7 and 8. So, the number of holidays reaches 13.

Since September 25 is a Monday, chances are high that the chief minister would declare it as a holiday, a Nabanna source said. Even if she doesn’t an employee can take an off. And that would mean 16 days of continuous holidays from September 23 (Saturday).

This, of course, applies to offices where Saturdays are full holidays. State government undertakings and civic bodies have a half working day on Saturday.

Holi and Muharram have fallen on Sundays. There are three sectional (restricted) holidays for Buddha Purnima (May 10), Shab-e-Barat (May 12), and Chhat Puja (October 26).

  Kolkata, naked truth, west bengal