Thane schools give 6-day break for Ganeshotsav

While schools in Thane have announced a six-day holiday for Ganeshotsav following requests by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), most Mumbai schools are still hesitant fearing loss of "precious" working days.

But there a few schools ready to change tradition by giving a longer holiday for Ganeshotsav and cutting short the Christmas vacation.

"The attendance of students and teachers is usually low during the 10-day festival as many families bring home idols. Hence, we decided to give a longer break for Ganpati and reduce the number of Christmas holidays,’’ said Yogesh Patel, director of Swami Vivekananda International Group of Schools in Gorai and Malad. The institute has announced a week-long holiday, starting Wednesday.

This decision was taken  by not just Marathi medium schools, as even private English schools have increased the number of holidays to at least five days from the earlier two-three days.

MNS activist Avinash Jadhav said that many missionary schools have agreed to extend the holiday.

"There was an old government circular stating that schools should give at least five days of leave for Ganeshotsav. But most schools do not follow this circular,’’ added Jadhav. "If you can declare a 10-day break during Christmas, it would be an insult if adequate holidays are not declared for celebrating festivals of Maharashtra."

But, Jesuit schools refuse to grant more than two days of break.

Gregory Lobo, head of the Archdiocesan Board of Education, said: "If we grant more holidays for Ganeshotsav, other communities will start demanding the same for their festivals too. Then we will not be able to complete the syllabus on time.’’

Father Francis Swamy, principal of Holy Family School in Andheri, said that though officially the school is only closed for two days, students are allowed to take leave if they have an idol at home.

"We do not give a long break for this festival. But, students are in a festive mood, and hence we permit them to take leave. Also, we leave school early on immersion days,’’ he said.