Teachers observe daylong fast on 1st day of residential training

Government school teachers in Bihar have held a daylong fast to protest against a residential training programme being held during Navaratri. The teachers have demanded that the training be postponed until after the religious festival. The programme aims to educate teachers on teaching methods and establishing connections with students, but teachers argue that the timing is inappropriate as they observe fasts and perform religious ceremonies during Navaratri. The BJP has supported the teachers and criticized the government’s decision, while the state government had previously faced backlash for cutting holidays on Hindu festivals.