For govt employees, holidays galore in October

It will be a feast of holidays especially for State and central government employees in October with two major festivals - Dasara and Deepavali - falling in the same month.

October starts with an extended weekend with a chain of four back-to-back holidays beginning with Gandhi Jayanthi (October 2), followed by Ayudha Pooja (October 3), October 4 (Vijayadashami) and October 5 (Bakrid and Sunday).

However, Central government employees will have to attend office on Gandhi Jayanthi, the day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch “Clean India” campaign and take a cleanliness pledge. The employees will have to take pledge to keep the country clean and also work that day. 

Two holidays

The second week of October will have two holidays - October 8 (Valmiki Jayanthi - State government holiday) and October 11 (second Saturday). After a brief lull, the holiday boom starts again with October 22 (Naraka Chathurdasi) and October 24 (Balipadyami) being holidays.

An official press release stated that Valmiki Jayanthi on October 8 will be observed at the State, district and taluk levels by the State government. At the State-level, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will launch the celebrations at the Banquet Hall, Vidhana Soudha on that day.