Chennai, Oct 9 (IANS): It is a long weekend for the employees of the government-owned banks and general insurance companies in Tamil Nadu and other parts of the country, starting October 8.

While Saturdays are holidays for government owned non-life insurance firms, the second and fourth Saturdays of the month are non-working days for banks. October 8 is a second Saturday.

The first three working days of this week -- Monday to Wednesday -- are holidays. On Monday it is Ayudha Pooja -- a day to worship the tools and implements of one's trade, Tuesday is Vijayadashmi -- the Dussehra or Dashera and the auspicious day for beginning formal education, and Wednesday it is Muharram -- the beginning of the first month of the year in Islamic calendar.

A banker told IANS that people will not be majorly put to trouble as there are automatic teller machines to dispense cash that they might need.

It is not only the bankers and insurers who have five days of continuous holidays. Even the state government employees enjoy similar holidays.

Besides Tamil Nadu, it is five continuous holidays in Karnataka too.

"Banking is only a public utility and not an essential service in India. Today there are alternate delivery channels for availing banking service. Private sector corporates would also have holidays enabling their employees to celebrate the festivals," C.H. Venkatachalam, General Secretary of the All India Bank Employees'Association (AIBEA), told IANS earlier.