Bhubaneswar4: After celebrating Teachers’ Day and ‘Ganesh Puja’ at Lower PMG here, the protesting block grant teachers also chose the dharna site to celebrate Nuakhai Friday.
A protesting teacher said, “The festivals which we ought to have celebrated in our schools, colleges and homes, especially today’s Nuakhai, we’re celebrating on the street here. It’s certainly sad.”
“We collected a little money to celebrate today’s festival. We placed Maa Samaleswari’s photo and offered ‘nabarna’ (new rice). We have also prepared ‘khiri’ (sweet dish) from the new rice. We also offered ‘pitha’ (pancake) and fruits to the deity. ‘Prasad Sevan’ (dish from offerings) arrangement has been made for all,” she stated.
Odisha School College Teachers’ and Employees’ United Forum Convenor Golak Nayak said, “Much before embarking on this strike August 16, we had declared our strong resolve. The strike will end the day when an assurance is given by the CM, and we are sanctioned full grant-in-aid and other service conditions.”
“During our strike we will celebrate all the festivals of Odisha as we are in the noble profession of teaching,” he said.