Mayurbhanj, Jan 13: The holidays of Class 10 students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes residing in hostels have been cancelled, following a directive issued by the Baripada Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) Project Administrator.


The decision has sparked widespread discontent among families and community leaders.


The directive mandates that students residing in hostels have to attend classes during the Makar festival, even though the state government has declared January 14 as a general holiday and January 15 as a district‑specific holiday.


Families and community leaders have expressed anger, saying the move disregards cultural traditions.


Makar is one of the most important festivals in Mayurbhanj, celebrated with family gatherings, preparation of traditional dishes like Makar Budha Pitha, and rituals involving new clothes and festive meals.

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The state government had already declared January 14 as a holiday and approved January 15 as a special holiday for the district. Against this backdrop, the ITDA directive has triggered widespread dissatisfaction.