NEW DELHI, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- The local government in India's eastern state of Odisha has announced that Thursday will be a public holiday in view of the solar eclipse, officials said Wednesday.
A per the order, government offices in the state will remain closed across the state.
"Government have been pleased to declare Dec. 26, 2019 as a holiday for all government offices, revenue and magisterial courts (executive) and banks and other banking institutions in Odisha on account of solar eclipse," a statement issued by Odisha's revenue and disaster management department said.
The authorities have also decided to close schools and colleges.
The celestial event officials said the eclipse will be clearly visible in many parts of Odisha.
Reports said partial eclipse will be visible in the state between 8:20 a.m. (local time) and 11:28 a.m. (local time) and the fullest eclipse would occur at 9:46 a.m. (local time).
Meanwhile, a special arrangement has been made at Pathani Samanta Planetarium in Bhubaneswar, the capital city to Odisha, to assist residents to witness the celestial event safely.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes in between the earth and the sun and when all the three bodies are aligned.
