DJ Venkatesh
Port Blair, Sept 25: Even as Durgotsava is celebrated with immense fervour and traditional customs in these islands, the festival this year has brought sorrow for the students of North Andaman, particularly, Diglipur, a substantial Bengali belt.
With the government declaring Oct 3 the only holiday for the 6-day festival, students of North Andaman, pursuing courses in various institutions in South Andaman, won’t be able to join up their parents in their natives places during the widely celebrated festival of India, Durga Puja.
Of the six-days observed during Durga Puja, Maha Nabami falls on the 3rd of October this year and the government has declared the day as public holiday. Demands are being raised for declaring Oct 4 as Restricted Holiday for government institutions so as to enable students reunite with their families back in remote parts during the important Bengali festival and return back for studies to Port Blair on Sunday. “Not only Bengali, students from other communities also eagerly wait for the Durga Puja every year.
About two-three days of leaves are granted during the festival and students leave for their homes to celebrate the festival with their family and relatives. We’re left dejected this time. Only one day (Oct 3) has been declared as holiday this year and many students are forced to stay back at Port Blair during the festival. The administration should consider declaring Oct 4 as a RH for all government institutions,” bemoan some students of JNRM.
