
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered a holiday for women employees of the Uttarakhand government on 29 October 2026 for the Karwa Chauth festival. The government has issued an official order recognising the cultural significance of the occasion.

Dhami said the decision was made to allow working women time to observe the festival, which he described as connected to faith, love and trust within families. He added that the government considers women's sentiments and traditions while pursuing the state's development without diminishing cultural heritage.
The holiday addresses a practical barrier for women balancing professional schedules with a festival that involves fasting and prayers. Dhami's framing links the move to cultural preservation and family values, signalling an effort to project the government as attentive to tradition alongside development. The order applies only to women employees, leaving men without a holiday even if they are involved in the observance. The notification itself does not specify whether the holiday is paid or will be adjusted against casual leave.
Source: asianetnews.com
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