Delhi Declares November 16 Public Holiday for Chhath Puja Celebrations

The Delhi administration has declared November 16 as a public holiday across the national capital for Chhath Puja, one of the major festivals celebrated predominantly in northern India. The announcement comes through an official order issued by the General Administration Department, ensuring that essential services and institutions observe the closure on the specified date.

As per the directive, all schools, government offices, autonomous bodies, and public sector undertakings will remain shut on November 16. The holiday order enables residents to participate in the four-day festival, which involves ritualistic bathing and offerings to the sun god and is particularly significant in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi's communities.

The decision aligns with the Delhi government's practice of recognizing festivals celebrated by various communities in the capital. Chhath, typically observed in autumn, draws devotees to water bodies where they perform specific rituals and vows as part of their spiritual observance.

With the holiday notification, the government aims to facilitate unhindered celebration while ensuring that public institutions can appropriately acknowledge the cultural significance of the festival for a substantial section of the city's population.