MANY LONG WEEKENDS ON 2023 PUBLIC HOLIDAY LIST

LUCKNOW : The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday released a list of public holidays to be observed in its offices in 2023, making for a number of long weekends, including those falling on Holi, Dussehra and Diwali next year.

According to the list released by the general administration department, there are 25 public holidays and 31 restricted holidays (every employee is entitled to avail leave on two restricted holidays). A close scrutiny of the list reveals that the employees would lose five public holidays that fall on Saturday and Sunday when the state government’s offices, observing five-day working, remain closed.

As Holi falls on March 7 and 8 (Tuesday and Wednesday), employees would have to take a day’s leave on March 6 (Monday) to make it a five-day weekend from March 4. The four-day weekend during Dussehra would add to festivities as Mahanavami and Vijay Dashmi will be on Monday (October 23) and Tuesday (October 24), respectively. Diwali holiday falls on November 12.

As Goverdhan Puja and Bhai Duj will fall on November 13 and 15, the employees will have to avail leave on November 14, to make it a five-day holiday from November 11, 2023. There will be eight more long weekends as eight holidays are falling on Friday or Monday.