While nations like the US, China, and Japan enjoy week-long national holidays that bring families together, India — a land of festivals — still lacks one unified festive pause. A growing number of economists, business leaders, and citizens now believe Diwali could become that common five-day national holiday the country needs.
India, home to more than 140 crore people, celebrates countless regional festivals such as Durga Puja, Onam, Pongal, and Ganesh Chaturthi. Yet, there’s no single nationwide break that allows everyone to step back, rest, and reconnect — a concept that’s long been embraced by other major economies.
A Case for a Common Festive Pause
In countries like the United States, Thanksgiving week in November practically shuts down businesses and schools. Similarly, China observes an extended Lunar New Year holiday, and Japan has its famous Golden Week. Even in West Asia, countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE take week-long breaks during Ramzan.
However, in India, even during Diwali — celebrated across most states — work rarely stops. Corporate offices usually grant only one or two days off, forcing employees to rush through travel and festivities.
Calls for a Week-Long Diwali Break
Radhika Gupta, MD and CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund, voiced her opinion on social media, stating that India needs a longer, structured festive break.
“In all my years living in the West, holiday season was long and extended. Unfortunately, in India, Diwali holidays are usually just a day or two. We deserve a week-long break as a country to enjoy family and festive time without counting days,” she wrote.
Market analyst Alok Jain, founder of Weekend Investing, echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that a national-level festive week could even reduce pollution in cities like Delhi if vehicular movement were temporarily curbed during that period.
The Economic Boost Factor
Beyond well-being, a longer festive holiday could deliver a powerful economic push. According to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), Diwali 2025 generated ₹6.05 lakh crore in business — the highest in India’s trading history.
- ₹5.4 lakh crore came from goods,
- ₹65,000 crore from services.
Last year’s Diwali-driven consumption alone exceeded ₹4.25 trillion, with e-commerce seeing a 24% rise in order volumes. A Bank of Baroda report estimated that festive and wedding spending combined reached ₹12–14 trillion, contributing to significant GDP growth.
Experts believe that extending Diwali into a week-long national break could further amplify consumer spending on travel, shopping, food, and entertainment — all while giving citizens the mental breather they need.
Right Ingredients, But No Common Pause
While different Indian states do enjoy long holidays during regional festivals —
- West Bengal shuts down for up to 12 days during Durga Puja,
- Bihar sees 6 days off combining Diwali, Chitragupta Puja, and Chhath,
- Kerala and Tamil Nadu pause for Onam and Pongal respectively —
none of these are pan-India celebrations.
Diwali, however, cuts across geography, religion, and language — making it India’s best candidate for a unified national holiday.
A Call for Change
Beyond convenience and economy, advocates say a five-day Diwali holiday would bring dignity to festive travel, reduce accidents from overcrowded trains and buses, and improve family well-being.
As India continues to rise as a global economic powerhouse, many now ask — isn’t it time the country also institutionalized a week of rest and reflection during its most beloved festival?
Originally published on newsworldstime.com.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
