The Odisha government declared September 9 a public holiday for all schools in celebration of the Nuakhai festival, which was observed on September 8. The holiday was announced after the state government previously declared the closure of all state offices and educational institutions on September 9. Banks across the state will also remain closed on September 9, as per an official notification. Nuakhai, celebrated primarily in Western Odisha, is an agricultural festival marking the harvest of the new rice crop.