Changunarayan municipality in Bhaktapur has declared public holiday for Monday to mark Haribodhini Ekadashi even as the federal government is cutting the number of public holidays.
Mayor Som Prasad Mishra has declared holiday for all government offices, health and educational institutions and cooperatives inside Changunarayan municipality to celebrate Haribodhini Ekadashi, the 11th day of the waxing phase in the month of Kartik according to the lunar calendar when Lord Vishnu is believed to wake up after sleeping for four months.
"Changunarayan Temple is the eldest among the four Narayan (Vishnu) temples. There is a big fair here on the day. This temple is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. Our municipality is also named after this temple," Mayor Mishra told Setopati. "There is a fair in such an important temple. What is wrong in giving a holiday for one day?" he argued when asked about the reason to give holiday.
"The law has not prohibited giving holiday like it has not spoken about giving it," he argued when pointed that the law does not give a municipality rights to announce public holidays. "This will support tourism development of our municipality as well."
The Local Government Operation Act 2017 does not mention about the local bodies giving holidays.
A team including Mayor Mishra and provincial assembly member from the district Saraswoti Bati monitored the Changunarayan Temple on the occasion of Haribodhini Ekadashi on Sunday.
Three local bodies in Ilam district--Phakpkothum and Mangsebung rural municipalities and Mai municipality--had earlier declared public holiday on November 11 to mark birth anniversary of Mahaguru Falgunananda declared a national hero by the government nine years ago.
The federal government had announced public holiday for one day, Province 2 for two days, and a few local bodies in the province for three days in the recently concluded Chhath festival.
