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Odisha government issues guidelines for re-engagement of retired government servants
In an update to the state’s public holiday calendar, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, on Friday, approved the rescheduling of the Sabitri Amavasya holiday from May 27 to May 26, 2025.
A press release from the CMO stated that the decision was taken after consultations with religious authorities and temple committees, including the Mukti Mandap of Puri.
Originally, the state government had declared May 27 as a public holiday for Sabitri Amavasya. However, recent discussions with traditional religious institutions and almanac experts revealed that the auspicious day will actually be observed on May 26, not May 27 as previously scheduled.
Following this adjustment, all state government offices and affiliated institutions will now remain open on May 27, as it is no longer designated as a holiday.
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What is Sabitri Amavasya?
Sabitri Amavasya is a significant and deeply revered festival observed by married Hindu women, particularly in Odisha, who fast and pray for the long life, prosperity, and well-being of their husbands.
The observance is rooted in the legend of Sabitri and Satyavan, a tale from the Mahabharata, where Sabitri's unwavering devotion and courage compelled Yama, the god of death, to return her husband’s life.
Celebrated on the Amavasya (new moon) of the Jyestha month in the Hindu calendar (usually in May or June), the day is marked by day-long fasting, rituals, and symbolic acts of love and resilience.
Women typically dress in new or traditional attire, apply sindoor (vermillion), and gather around sacred banyan trees, which symbolise longevity and stability in marriage.
They perform pujas (rituals), tie sacred cotton threads (raksha sutra) around the banyan tree, and listen to or recite the ‘Sabitri Brata Katha’, a sacred story narrating Sabitri’s determination and spiritual strength. To this day, the festival continues to be a vital part of the cultural and spiritual lives of Odia women across generations.