Eid-e-Milad: Maharashtra govt declares public holiday on Friday

MUMBAI: Heeding appeals from Muslim leaders, including former minister Arif Naseem Khan, the state government has declared a public holiday on September 29 to facilitate processions on Eid-e-Milad or celebrations of Prophet Muhammad’s birthday. Eid-e-Milad and Anant Chaturdashi, which will see visrajan of Ganpati idols, both fall on September 28, and Muslim leaders wanted the government to declare September 29 as a public holiday so that Eid-e-Milad processions are taken out smoothly.

“I had written to CM Eknath Shinde and deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis to announce September 29 as a holiday so that offices and educational institutions can remain closed. Eid-e-Milad juloos or processions will be taken out smoothly,” said Khan, who leads a massive Eid-e-Milad procession in the suburbs.

Khan added that both communities will now celebrate their festivals peacefully and no trouble is feared.
Sohail Khandwani, managing trustee of Mahim Dargah and trustee of Haji Ali Dargah, thanked the government. “I wrote to the CM, deputy CMs and guardian minister (city) Deepak Kesarkar to grant a holiday. I am glad they considered my appeal and September 29 is a holiday,” Khandwani said.