GUWAHATI: The Assam Cabinet has increased the state government’s holiday list to 36 days, adding more cultural and regional festivals to the calendar. This expansion aims to acknowledge and honor the varied traditions of the state.
Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu remarked that the state government has approved 36 holidays for government employees, in addition to seven extra restricted holidays.
The list of holidays that is approved includes various cultural and regional festivals like Bir Raghab Moran Divas, Nuakhai Festival, Wangala Festival, Matak Raja Swargadeo Sarbananda Singha Divas, Gurudev Kalicharan Brahma birth anniversary, Rongker Puja, and Satin Radhika Utsav.
In addition, Ali-Aye-Ligang, the primary festival of the Mising community, will now officially be regarded as a public holiday across 11 districts across the state.
Meanwhile, earlier this month, in a significant announcement, the Assam Government declared a restricted holiday on the 5th of January every year for the state government employees on the occasion of Rongker Karkli (Rongker Puja).
Rongker Puja, also known as the Rongker festival, is a celebration by the Karbi tribe of Assam to give thanks to God and ask for protection from evil. It's also a ritual to usher in peace, prosperity, and a good harvest.
The festival is celebrated in Karbi villages across the Karbi Anglong district. Communities contribute financially and in kind to cover the costs of the rituals. At the end of the festival, the villagers come together to eat a meal and start the new year's work.
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