In celebration of the joyous Navratri festival, the Kerala government has announced that schools under the General Education Department will be closed on Friday, October 11th, 2024. This closure will encompass the celebrations of Ashtami and Navami, two significant days within the nine-day festivities.
Kerala Education Minister V Sivankutty stated that the school closure is being implemented as a part of the Puja holidays. This decision comes after the National Teachers Union submitted a memorandum to the Minister requesting a holiday on October 11th. The memorandum highlighted that the Durga Ashtami and Mahanavami puja rituals fell on October 11th, while Vijayadashami puja is observed on October 12th.
The significance of these dates extends beyond Kerala. Banks in Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal will also remain closed today in observance of Mahashtami and Mahanavami. Furthermore, some regional banks in Agartala, Gangtok, Guwahati, Imphal, Itanagar, Kohima, Patna, Shillong, and Ranchi will also be closed.
Durga Ashtami, also known as Maha Ashtami, holds a special place in the Navratri festival, marking the eighth day of the nine-day celebration. This year, Durga Ashtami and Navami coincide, falling on Friday, October 11th.
The nine-day Shardiya Navratri is a deeply revered period that commemorates the epic battle between Goddess Durga and the demon Mahishasura. This period culminates on the tenth day with the defeat of Mahishasura, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil.
Dussehra, the tenth day of Shardiya Navratri, holds its own significance, celebrating Lord Rama’s victory over the demon king Ravana. This victory led to the successful rescue of Goddess Sita, further solidifying the theme of good prevailing over evil.
Moving forward, Diwali, the festival of lights, is set to be celebrated on October 31st this year. This date coincides with Kartik Amavasya or Naraka Chaturdashi. It is widely believed that Goddess Lakshmi descends to Earth during the night of Diwali, making it an auspicious time to perform Diwali puja after sunset.
