Chennai: The state government has declared 5 November as local holiday to enable people to celebrate Deepavali, which falls the next day.

In deference to the wishes expressed from various quarters, seeking to declare 5 November as holiday to enable the government employees and teachers to visit their native places to celebrate Deepavali, the government has taken this step.

Since the holiday was not declared under the Negotiable Instruments Act, the respective district administrations were directed to ensure that emergency government works were attended to on that day.

The GO said in lieu of the holiday declared on 5 November, the second Saturday on 10 November was declared as a working day.

Making use of the weekend holidays and the extra holiday on Monday, the government employees and those in various PSUs are likely to depart for their native places on 2 November to celebrate the festival with their families.