Matiang’i dismisses notice declaring tomorrow a public holiday
The Government has dismissed a gazette notice making rounds on social media, stating that tomorrow (Thursday, November 4) will be a public holiday to mark Diwali.
Via it’s Twitter handle, the Interior Ministry termed the gazette notice as fake.
“The Government has not declared a public holiday on Thursday, November 4, 2021. The purported gazette notice declaring [tomorrow as] a holiday is fake,” said the ministry.
Diwali is a festive holiday of the year for the Hindus, and it is an official public holiday in many countries with Hindu populations.
Kenya’s population of Indian descent is only around one per cent.
The same traditions adhered to in India are practiced by Kenyan Hindus as well, though the size of the celebrations is obviously quite a bit smaller.
The basis of Diwali, The Festival of Lights, lies in Hindu mythology. It is meant to be a celebration of “good triumphing over evil“ and a day to worship the gods and goddesses of prosperity.
The main action taken to celebrate Diwali at home is lighting diya lanterns in one’s window or other parts of one’s home.
Also adding to the lights are fireworks that light up the sky.
However, the government only allows fireworks and firecrackers at set hours of the day, and they are not to be set off in residential zones.
