On Friday, the Delhi Government declared Chhath Puja on 27th October to be a public holiday. However, Delhi University has not declared an official holiday, sparking student outrage. While some colleges like Sri Venkateswara have offered academic leniency, the broader university administration remains unresponsive.
Chhath Puja, a government holiday, as declared by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, has yet again, been disregarded by the Delhi University, stirring up major discontent and controversy. While the capital city will be observing a holiday on 27th October, i.e., Monday, which marks the third and most important day of the festival, the Delhi University administration has retained the occasion in its list of restricted holidays, and has despite past outrage and a government-mandated closure of holidays, not kept it a holiday for its students.
Chhath Puja is widely celebrated across Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh by worshipping the Sun God or ‘Chhathi Maiya’. The Chief Minister, in her declaration, said, “Through the worship of the Sun and Chhathi Maiya, Chhath conveys a message of purity, environmental protection and gratitude towards nature.” The erstwhile Delhi CM Atishi had declared a similar government holiday last year as well.
This year, the official University mid-semester Diwali break was scheduled from 19th October till the 26th of October—incorporating Chhath Puja within this break would simply mean extending the holiday just by one day. This remains one of the major points of contention amongst University students celebrating the festivity as a 3rd year points out,
I’m really disappointed that DU didn’t consider extending the holidays for Chhath Puja. It’s such an important festival for so many of us from Bihar and Eastern UP, and most of us travel back home just for these few days. One extra day would’ve made a huge difference because the travel itself takes so long. It feels like the university doesn’t really understand how significant this festival is for us emotionally and culturally.”
Such outrage has previously been noted amongst the students on multiple other occasions, such as on Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti earlier in the month, which was an officially declared public holiday by the Delhi Government.
However, classes for most Delhi University colleges were not officially cancelled. Students have argued that since DU is a Central University, and thus comes under the jurisdiction of the Central Government, it is unfair to assume that classes would be cancelled for the University. Despite this, students who have celebrated the Chhath Festival throughout their lives are disappointed towards the lack of sensitivity of the University administration and their inactivity in recognising and encouraging inclusivity for students of all backgrounds.
“A one-day extension would have shown some inclusivity towards students who celebrate Chhath. It’s a big deal back home for us,” a second-year Delhi University student said,
It’s unfair that so many of us have to miss the celebration this year because classes resume immediately. Even a single-day extension would’ve allowed us to be with our families without worrying about the travel or attendance, especially when fulfilling the attendance criteria is imperative.”
This is not to say that all colleges within DU are completely indifferent to this public holiday declaration. The administration of Sri Venkateswara College has informed its faculty that no class tests, assignment submissions or practical tests are to be scheduled between the 27th and 31st of October, “to ensure that students are able to participate in the festive celebrations without academic inconvenience”, as intimated through an email that was sent to the teachers. A post by DUTODAY mentioned that many colleges across Delhi University are expected to adopt similar measures, subject to the respective departments and colleges.
Read also: Sri Venkateswara Asks Faculty to Avoid Tests Post-Diwali Break; Some Say Assessments Still On
Image source: The Indian Express
Manya Marwah
