
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has declared a public holiday on October 19 for Maha Navami, the state government announced on Friday, 16 October 2026. The decision, in line with past practice during Navratri, follows two consecutive holidays earlier in 2026 for Ram Navami and a January 15 holiday for Makar Sankranti.

Separately, on the sixth day of Navratri, Adityanath posted a social media message praising Maa Katyayani as a symbol of women's courage. He cited expanded sports infrastructure, including village grounds and the Major Dhyan Chand Sports University in Meerut, and named women athletes such as Parul Chaudhary and Deepti Sharma who have represented India at international events.
The holiday order applies statewide to government offices and schools, with no mention of private institutions or banks. The October 19 date locks Maha Navami into the state's official calendar alongside the two days already given for Ram Navami and the Makar Sankranti holiday earlier in 2026. What remains unaddressed is whether any compensatory working day will be set, or if the holiday cuts into the administrative week for pending public services.
Source: indiatvnews.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.