Govt announces holiday on Buddha Purnima

The state government has issued a notification on Wednesday declaring holiday on Buddha Purnima. This year Buddha Purnima is on May 10. The state-run offices, schools, colleges and other organisations will remain closed on the day. The state government also gives holiday on Rabindra Jayanti that is on May 9 this year. Thus, the state-run offices will remain closed for two consecutive days.

It may be recalled that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had declared on February 15 in Kalimpong that Buddha Purnima will be declared as a state holiday from this year onward. She had said: "We have many Buddhist monasteries in the state and there are many people mainly in the Hills who follow this religion. As per their demands, it has been decided to declare Buddha Purnima as a state holiday from this year."