Just a month after mandating special events for Guru Purnima in schools, the Madhya Pradesh government, led by the BJP, has issued new instructions for schools and colleges to celebrate Krishna Janmashtami on August 26.
On Wednesday, the general administration department released a six-point directive to all district collectors. The directive requires both government and private educational institutions to host lectures by scholars and cultural programs that focus on Lord Krishna’s teachings, including themes of friendship, life philosophy, and values.
The directive also encourages schools and colleges to organize events promoting India’s ancient traditions, such as Yoga, on August 26. District collectors were asked to ensure the cleaning of Lord Krishna temples and the organization of cultural programs at these sites during Janmashtami. Special emphasis was placed on religious sites believed to be associated with Lord Krishna’s life, including Janapava (Dewas), Amjhera (Dhar), Narayan, and Sandipani Ashram (Ujjain).
The Congress party criticized the move, with Congress MLA from Bhopal-Central, Arif Masood, stating, “Why is this government trying to ruin educational institutions? There are provisions for declaring holidays on religious occasions.”
In contrast, BJP MLA from Bhopal’s Huzur, Rameshwar Sharma, supported the decision, saying, “Our government has decided to celebrate Janmashtami across the state. It is a positive move by the government.”
