Maharashtra Reschedules Eid-e-Milad Holiday in Mumbai to Promote Harmony

Mumbai : In a move aimed at maintaining social harmony during the overlapping festivals, the Maharashtra government has rescheduled the Eid-e-Milad holiday in Mumbai from September 16 to September 18, 2024. This decision, announced through an official notification on Friday, follows requests from Muslim MLAs and organizations.

Eid-e-Milad, which celebrates the birth of Prophet Muhammad, is a significant religious festival observed by the Muslim community with grand processions. The original holiday was set for September 16, but with the Hindu festival of Anant Chaturdashi occurring on September 17, the government decided to shift the public holiday to September 18 to avoid clashes with Ganpati immersion ceremonies.

The notification stated: "Among the 24 public holidays notified by the State Government, the Eid-e-Milad holiday was initially indicated on Monday, September 16, 2024. However, to ensure peace and social harmony, the Muslim community has decided to hold their procession on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, considering the Hindu festival of Anant Chaturdashi on September 17."

Authorities noted that outside Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburbs, district collectors will have the discretion to either maintain the holiday on September 16 or reschedule it to September 18 based on local procession plans.

The rescheduling aims to avoid potential conflicts between the two communities during these overlapping festivities, ensuring a peaceful celebration of both Eid-e-Milad and Ganpati immersion.