Public Holiday Declared in Kerala for Maha Navami

Thiruvananthapuram: The government of Kerala has declared a public holiday on October 11, 2024, in observance of Maha Navami, part of the Navaratri celebrations. This decision applies to all educational institutions and government offices. Banks will also remain closed on this day. The announcement was made under the Negotiable Instruments Act, as per the directions of the Chief Minister.

Initially, the government had declared a holiday only for educational institutions. However, following a request from the National Teachers Union, who submitted a petition to the Education Minister, the holiday has been extended to include government offices and banks. This adjustment was requested due to the scheduling of the Navaratri Puja, which occurs over several days this year.

The Navaratri Puja for this year is set to commence on the evening of October 10 during the Durga Ashtami, albeit across two days due to astrological alignments that bring the Tritiya during sunrise. Consequently, the Puja will begin on the evening of October 10 and continue through Maha Navami on October 11 and 12, culminating with the Vijaya Dashami Puja on the morning of October 13.

The public holiday aims to honor the traditional Puja ceremonies associated with Navaratri, allowing citizens to participate without the constraint of school and office commitments.