Public holidays The Punjab government declared on October 2 and 3 as the Gandhi Jayanti and Agrasen Jayanti, respectively. These two days fall on Wednesday and Thursday and a working day on Friday and the next weekend. All the educational institutions, banks, and government offices within the state will remain closed during the two days. Gandhi Jayanti is a national day celebrated as the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who is referred to as the Father of the Nation in India.
This national day pays homage to his invaluable contributions towards the India independence movement and the timeless messages of non-violence, truth, and peace. Agrasen Jayanti, meaning “Agrasen’s birthday,” is the legendary birthday of Hindu king Maharaj Agrasen, who is believed to have started the Agrawal community as the ruler of Agroha. This festival is held annually on the fourth day of the Hindu month of Ashwin.
October is a festive month and school break. The month’s school holidays follow:
Durga Puja is one of the most auspicious events in the Hindu calendar. The celebration takes place from 2nd week October. It starts as Maha Saptami on Thursday, October 10, Maha Ashtami on Friday, October 11, Maha Navami on Saturday, October 12, and ends with Vijaya Dashami on Sunday, October 13. At many places, schools will celebrate these through closure.
Valmiki Jayanti and Lakshmi Puja: Festivals of Legends and Goddesses
Schools will remain closed on Thursday, 17 October, on the occasion of Valmiki Jayanti and Lakshmi Puja (Bengali). Valmiki Jayanti is the birthday of Sage Valmiki, the great writer of the ancient Indian epic Ramayana. Lakshmi Puja is something different at every Bengali house. It is offered to Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. The day is full of grand rituals and prayers, and schools in regions having a sizeable population of Bengalis generally remain closed to permit families to join in the festivities.
As October comes to a close, preparations for Diwali commence in right earnest. The effervescent Festival of Lights will be observed this year on Thursday, 31st of October, and schools will shut their gates to allow families to submerge themselves into the festival. Families gather to light diyas or traditional oil lamps, eat sweets and snack native to the festival. Schools plan activities and assemblies to remind children of the importance of Diwali. Many provide additional days off ahead of the holiday to ensure that families have enough time to prepare.
Applicants should consult their school for a more comprehensive list of holidays in October 2024.
