A claim regarding Bihar is going viral on social media. Users are claiming that the Bihar government has canceled the holidays for Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja. A user named Shivam Tyagi wrote, “The Bihar government has canceled the holidays for Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath Puja. What do you have to say about this, Nitish Ji?”
Similarly, many other users are sharing similar posts. Users named Anand Kumar Bind and Santosh Kumar Paramar have also made the same claim.
Fact Check
DFRAC’s team investigated this claim. We came across a tweet by news agency ANI, which stated, “The Bihar Education Department has reduced the number of holidays during festivals in government schools from September to December from 23 to 11.” Along with this tweet, a government order from Bihar’s Education Department was also posted.
Which holidays are affected by the new order?
According to the Bihar government’s new order, the number of holidays has been reduced. As per the issued holidays, there will be 3 holidays, including one Sunday, for Durga Puja. Diwali will have 1 holiday, and Chhath Puja will have 2 holidays. The order mentioned that as per the Right to Education Act, 2009, primary schools must have a minimum of 200 working days, and secondary schools must have a minimum of 220 working days.
How many holidays have been reduced?
According to media reports, out of the 23 holidays during September to December, 12 holidays have been eliminated. Earlier, there was a 6-day holiday for Durga Puja, which has been reduced to 2 days, including Sunday, making it a 3-day holiday. Diwali to Chhath had a total of 9 days of holidays from November 13 to November 21, but the number of holidays has been reduced to 4. On Diwali day, November 12, there will be a holiday. After that, there will be a holiday on November 15 for Chitragupta Puja/Bhaiya Dooj. Following that, there will be holidays on November 19 and 20 for Chhath.
Several media reports have also mentioned that several holidays have been reduced to ensure that the primary schools have a minimum of 200 working days and the secondary schools have a minimum of 220 working days as per the Right to Education Act, 2009.
Conclusion
DFRAC’s fact check confirms that the viral claim on social media is misleading. The holidays for Durga Puja, Diwali, and Chhath have not been cancelled in Bihar, but there has been a reduction in the number of holidays. Therefore, the claim made by social media users is false.
