Kerala Declares Public Holiday for Maha Navami Festivities

The Kerala Government has announced a public holiday for all state government offices on Friday, October 11, due to the Maha Navami celebrations. This decision was made under the Negotiable Instruments Act, as stated in an official notification from the government. Previously, the government had declared holidays for educational institutions throughout the state in observance of the Navratri festival.

This year’s puja rituals are scheduled to commence on the evening of October 10. Traditionally, the Durga Ashtami puja is performed at dusk, but this year, it will take place at 10 PM on Ashtami evening because of the Tritiya, which coincides with the sunrise over two days.

Following the pujas on Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami, occurring on October 11 and 12 respectively, Vijayadashami celebrations are planned for the morning of October 13. In response to these events, the National Teachers Union (NTU) had previously appealed to the Education Minister for a holiday on October 11.

During the Navratri festivities, Ayudha Puja will be observed, where students and professionals clean and decorate their textbooks, tools, machinery, and vehicles. These items are presented at temples or prayer rooms in a ritual known as “Pooja Veyp.”

Although the academic calendar lists specific holidays, the lunar calendar marks Ashtami on the evening of October 10, when the “Pooja Veyp” ritual will occur. At the Kollur Mookambika Temple in Karnataka, Mahanavami will be recognized on October 11, while Vidyarambha will follow on October 12. However, Malayalam calendars recognize Vijayadashami on October 13, factoring in “nazhika,” a traditional unit of time measurement used in Kerala.

Consequently, Kerala students will lay out their textbooks for puja on Thursday evening, retrieving them on Sunday for Vidyarambha. The holiday declaration for Thursday, October 11, adheres to the NTU’s call for observance.