Mumbai gets extra Diwali holiday on November 9: Which government offices will remain closed and who gets the day off?
The Maharashtra government has declared 9 November a local holiday for state and semi-government offices in Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban districts. This decision adds an extra day off during the festival of lights.
Diwali celebrations this year are expected to strain household budgets due to rising prices of ingredients used in traditional sweets and festive meals. Dairy products, such as milk, ghee, butter and dry fruits, have seen significant price hikes, making it more expensive to prepare and purchase these items. Key ingredients, like ghee and butter, have seen price increases of up to 10%, while dry fruits have surged by up to 70% over the past year.
This cost inflation is not limited to dairy and dry products, as food inflation in September accelerated to 7.74%, pushing headline inflation to 5.54%. The Reserve Bank of India has expressed concerns over broadening price pressures across the economy. As a result, businesses are feeling the impact of increased costs, with many opting to reduce their gifting lists and opt for smaller packages.
Written by urgent.news from Live Mint's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.