Radhika Gupta on why she hasn't declared week-long Diwali break for Edelweiss MF employees

Diwali 2023: Radhika Gupta celebrated the festival with her family. (Image credit: @iRadhikaGupta/X)

As India celebrated Diwali 2023 with grandeur and enthusiasm, the festival of lights coincided with a Sunday this year. For those without the luxury of a Monday holiday, numerous individuals opted to extend the festivities into a long weekend by taking a day off from work. Radhika Gupta, the Managing Director and CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund, advocated for a week-long Diwali break for Indian workers, underscoring the Western tradition of enjoying an extended time-off during the Christmas season.

“In all my years living in the West, holiday season was long and extended. Christmas time off started after the 15th of December and continued through the New Year. In China, Chinese New Year has a long holiday,” Gupta had posted on X (formerly Twitter), a day before Diwali.

“Unfortunately, in India, Diwali holidays are usually 1 or 2 days in corporate offices.”

She pointed out that many people travel to be with their families during Diwali.

“While we can take the days off, is there a care for a longer festive break, maybe a week long one, as a country, so we can enjoy the festive season and family time without counting days?” Radhika Gupta said.

In all my years living in the West, holiday season was long and extended. Christmas time off started after the 15th of December and continued through the New Year. In China, Chinese New Year has a long holiday.

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Unfortunately in India, Diwali holidays are usually 1 or 2 days…

— Radhika Gupta (@iRadhikaGupta) November 11, 2023

Following her advocating for a longer Diwali break for Indian workers, the Edelweiss Mutual Fund boss explained the reason why she has not implemented this in her company.

"... a number of people asked me after my post, why I don’t implement this as a CEO. Impossible for anyone in the capital markets profession to do so responsibly when exchanges are working and NAVs are declared. The issue has to be solved systematically," she wrote on Sunday.

Exactly.

Btw a number of people asked me after my post, why I don’t implement this as a CEO. Impossible for anyone in the capital markets profession to do so responsibly when exchanges are working and NAVs are declared. The issue has to be solved systematically. https://t.co/qlw0NRWXVY

— Radhika Gupta (@iRadhikaGupta) November 12, 2023

The Monday after Diwali is Govardhan Puja. Many people who have a holiday on this day made a four-day weekend from November 10 (Friday) to November 13 (Monday) by taking one days’ leave on November 10.

Earlier this year, Diwali was declared as a public school holiday in New York City, as announced by the authorities in the city.