Sikkim Governor declares holiday on Sai Baba's burial day

Gangtok, April 26: Sikkim Governor B P Singh today (April 26) declared on Wednesday, April 27 as a public holiday in the state, to commemorate with the burial of godman Sri Satya Sai Baba who breathed his last at Puttaparthi on April 24.

A government notification issued by the Home department states, "to enable devotees to offer prayers to the divine soul on the date of burial of His divine body Puttaparthy in Prasanthi Nilayam, the state government is hereby pleased to declare April 27, 2011 as a public holiday throughout the state of Sikkim." The notification was issued in exercise of the powers conferred by Explanation to section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881).

Born as Sathyanarayana Raju in a humble backward caste family on November 23, 1926, Baba emerged as one of the most popular godmen in India in modern times.

PTI