India (Puducherry) : public and bank holidays, closure of banks, stock exchanges, school vacations

School holidays :

Catholic or protestant : Since pre-historic times in Europe, festivities (bonfires, offrerings) were marking the beginning of longer hours of daylight with fires and ritual. The Roman festival of Saturnalia lasted several days in December (gambling and offerings). Germanic tribes also celebrated mid-winter (drinking and rituals). The Bulgarian (with Koleduvane) and the Polish (with Gwiazdka) perpetuate this tradition. Jesus of Nazareth was probably born in springtime (Reformists favour autumn). But in the 4th century, December 25th was chosen for the celebration of his birth by Pope Julius I (Bishop Liberus is also mentioned in 354 A.D.). Thus, a Christian element was introduced in the long-established mid-winter festivals. Before 1582, the Papal States and other Italian city states celebrated New Year’s Day on Christmas Day.

School holidays : Lycée français de Pondichery
www.lfpondichery.net
Puducherry public schools follow a different calendar
Schooling is mandatory till age 14
Teaching languages: Tamil, English, Malayalam (in Mahé), Telugu (in Yanam), French
schools close on Saturday
school uniforms required

We carry confirmed dates till May 2025 -- heat waves may affect the calendar

Please note that authorities may take last-minute decisions; please double-check if this information is vital to you
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Secular holiday : The world's most widely celebrated holiday, New Years was set on January 1 by Julius Caesar because that was the date the Roman consuls took over their duties. Paid holiday when falling on Saturday or Sunday

Banks only :

Hinduism : Celebration of the harvest, which is observed for three days: Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal and Mattu Pongal. A colourful and traditional festival with many a ceremony devoted to various deities and cattle races.

Hinduism : Celebration of the harvest, which is observed for three days: Bhogi Pongal, Surya Pongal and Mattu Pongal. A colourful and traditional festival with many a ceremony devoted to various deities and cattle races.

Hinduism : Also called Thai Pongal: a harvest festival celebrated by Tamils Unusually for South Indian Hindu festivals, Thai Pongal is timed by an astronomical event - the winter solstice. Pongal is traditionally dedicated to the Sun God Surya and marks the beginning of the northward journey of the Sun from its southernmost-limit, a movement traditionally referred to as uttarayana. [Wikipedia]

Hinduism : Also called Thai Pongal: a harvest festival celebrated by Tamils Unusually for South Indian Hindu festivals, Thai Pongal is timed by an astronomical event - the winter solstice. Pongal is traditionally dedicated to the Sun God Surya and marks the beginning of the northward journey of the Sun from its southernmost-limit, a movement traditionally referred to as uttarayana. [Wikipedia]

Secular holiday : It was the Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress at midnight of December 31, 1929 - January 1, 1930, that the Tri-Colour Flag was unfurled by the nationalists and a pledge taken that every year on January 26, the Independence Day would be celebrated and that the people would unceasingly strive for the establishment of a Sovereign Democratic Republic of India. The professed pledge was successfully redeemed on January 26, 1950, when the Constitution of India framed by the Constituent Assembly of India came into force, although the Independence from the British rule was achieved on August 15, 1947. It is because of this that August 15 is celebrated as Independence Day, while January 26 as Republic Day.

School holidays :

Culture : Festival, lasts one week

Muslim, Sufi : Ends the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. There were 30 days of strict fasting from sunup to sundown in honor of the first revelation to the Prophet Mohammed.