Tamil Nadu Schools Shut For Diwali On November 1, Back In Session November 9

The Tamil Nadu Government has announced that November 1 will be a public holiday, allowing people to celebrate Diwali without the worry of returning to work the following day. As a result, all schools, colleges, and government offices will be closed on this day. This decision aims to give families more time to celebrate the festival and travel back home comfortably.

To balance this holiday, November 9 will be a regular working day. This means that all schools, colleges, coaching centres, and offices, including banks, will remain open on that Saturday. The official announcement was made through a government release on October 19, which stated, "The government has declared 9 November as a working day to make up for the holiday."

The move follows a request from the Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers' Organizations and Government Employees' Organizations (JACTTO-GEO). The council pointed out that many individuals travel to their hometowns to celebrate Diwali and may find it challenging to return to work the day after the festivities. In addition, schools and colleges in Tamil Nadu will also be closed on October 31, in preparation for Diwali celebrations.

On a related note, many southern states are currently experiencing heavy rainfall. In response, the Tamil Nadu government directed district officials to announce school holidays on October 16 due to the severe weather. Schools in Chennai, Kancheepuram, and Tiruvallur districts were closed for several days because of the downpours. A yellow alert was issued for parts of the state on Friday, October 18.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), isolated heavy rainfall is expected in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal until October 21. Currently, there are no updates about further school closures, and students are advised to check with their schools for the latest information.