Vijayawada, February 29, 2024: The Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments have declared a three-day closure for schools in the state in celebration of Maha Shivratri, which falls on Friday, March 8 this year. Although the Mahashivratri festival spans three days annually, the government traditionally designates a holiday for employees and students only on the first day.
However, due to the subsequent occurrence of the second Saturday and Sunday, there will be a continuous three-day holiday this year.
Earlier, the Telangana government had approved a holiday on February 8 to observe the Shab-e-Meraj festival. This decision was reflected in the official government calendar, designating February 8 as a holiday on the occasion of Shab-e-Meraj, a day considered auspicious by the Muslim community. On this day, mosques are adourned with lamps to mark the significance of the day according to the reports published in timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Moreover, the Telangana government has declared the closure of schools and colleges in Mulugu district during the Medaram Jathara, scheduled from February 21 to February 24. This closure was announced for both government and private educational institutions in Mulugu district. The Medaram Sammakka Saralamma Jatara, often dubbed the Telangana Kumbh Mela, is renowned as the largest tribal fair in Asia.