Maharashtra news: The Maharashtra government on Friday (September 13) rescheduled the official Eid-e-Milad holiday in Mumbai from September 16 (Monday) to September 18 (Wednesday).
As the Anant Chaturdashi, the last day of the Ganesh festival, falls on September 17, the local Muslim community has decided to take out its Eid processions on September 18 instead of September 16, and hence the holiday was being rescheduled, said an official release.
This decision follows requests from Muslim MLAs and organisations, who planned to hold Eid-e-Milad processions on September 18 to avoid conflicts with Ganpati immersion ceremonies.
The notification stated, "Among the 24 public holidays notified by the State Government, the Eid-e-Milad holiday is indicated on Monday, September 16, 2024. Eid-e-Milad, a religious festival of Muslims, is widely celebrated by the Muslim community on a large scale. A procession program is organised on this occasion. On Tuesday, September 17th, 2024, since there is the Hindu festival of Anant Chaturdashi, to maintain peace and social harmony between the two communities, the Muslim Community has decided to organise the procession program on Wednesday, 18th September, 2024. Therefore, the public holiday of Eid-e-Milad is being declared on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 instead of Monday, September 16, 2024."The notification also mentioned that outside Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburbs, district collectors will decide whether to maintain the holiday on September 16 or reschedule it to September 18, based on local procession plans.
Why changes were made?
The change was made as per the notification to "maintain peace and social harmony" between the two communities during these overlapping festivals. Eid-e-Milad marks the birth of Prophet Muhammad Muslims across the world participate in processions during the celebration.
Congress leader Naseem Khan writes letter to CM Shinde
Earlier, Maharashtra Congress leader Naseem Khan on September 8 urged Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to declare a holiday on September 18 for Eid-e-Milad instead of September 16.
"Anant Chaturdashi falls on September 17 and members of the Muslim community have decided to take out Eid-e-Milad processions on September 18 so that both festivals can be celebrated with pomp and gaiety," Khan said in his letter to CM Shinde.
