Kolkata, Oct. 23 -- Durga Puja is over, but there is something for West Bengal government employees to look forward to. In 2027, they could enjoy a longer stretch of Puja holidays than they did in 2026, with offices potentially remaining closed for 16 consecutive days.
This year, the Puja holidays began on October 15, and government offices are scheduled to reopen on October 27, marking a 12-day break. In 2027, however, the holiday stretch could be longer, depending on the state government's holiday calendar.
The last working day before the Puja break could be October 1, as October 2, Gandhi Jayanti, falls on a Saturday, while Panchami will be observed on Monday, October 4.
Lakshmi Puja will fall on Friday, October 15, in 2027. With the weekend following, government offices could remain closed until Sunday, October 17, and reopen on Monday, October 18. This suggests that Bengal government employees could get a longer continuous Puja break in 2027 than they did in 2026. However, whether the total number of holidays will increase next year remains unclear, an official said, as it will depend on the state government's holiday notification.
In 2026, state government employees were entitled to 27 holidays under the NI Act and 26 additional holidays announced by the state government. Along with 52 Saturdays and 52 Sundays, the calendar provided more than 150 non-working days, although some notified holidays coincided with weekly offs.
The extended Durga Puja break was a major highlight, with government offices remaining closed from October 15 to 26, including Sundays.
The 2027 holiday calendar also offers some promising opportunities for employees planning short trips. Republic Day falls on Tuesday, January 26, while January 23 is a Saturday. Employees could plan a longer break by taking leave on Monday, January 25.
The first holiday of the year could fall on Friday, January 1, provided the state government retains it in the official holiday calendar. This would be followed by Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary on Tuesday, January 12.
In February, Saraswati Puja falls on February 11, followed by another holiday on February 12, offering employees an extended break. Id-ul-Fitr is expected to fall on March 10 (Wednesday). However, Holi falls midweek, on March 23 (Tuesday), limiting the scope for a longer break.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.