KATHMANDU: The government has announced public holiday on Monday as President Bidya Devi Bhandari is embarking on her five-day state visit to India.

A meeting of the Cabinet, held at the PM's official residence in Baluwatar on Sunday, endorsed the President's state visit and decided to observe the public holiday.

President Bhandari will lead a 34-member team for her first foreign trip after her election to the top post in October 2015.

She is scheduled to return home on Friday, April 21.

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In November last year, the government had announced public holidays for the days of arrival and departure of Indian President Pranab Mukherjee during his state visit to Nepal. The decision had drawn flak from members of the public.

However, no any public holiday was observed when the first President of Nepal, Ram Baran Yadav, visited India in February 2010.