West Bengal shifts Bakrid holiday to May 28, cancels earlier dates

The West Bengal government has declared May 28 as a public holiday on account of Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid), revising its earlier holiday schedule for the festival.

In a notification, the state government said, “in partial modification of the aforesaid notification, the Governor is pleased to declare 28th May, 2026 (Thursday) as a public holiday on account of Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid).”


The government also cancelled the previously announced holidays on May 26 and May 27. “Consequent upon the above, the holidays notified earlier for 26th May, 2026 (Tuesday) and 27th May, 2026 (Wednesday) on account of the Day before Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid) and Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid), respectively, are hereby cancelled,” the notification stated.


It further stated that May 26 and 27 “will be working days for all offices, institutions and establishments to which the aforesaid notification applies.”

Meanwhile, the Calcutta high court on Thursday refused to interfere with the West Bengal government’s notification restricting the slaughter of bulls, bullocks, cows, calves and buffaloes ahead of Bakr Eid next week.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen observed that the notification had been issued in compliance with earlier directions passed by the court.

In its order, the court noted that the Supreme Court had previously held that the sacrifice of cows is not an essential part of Id-Uz-Zuha and is not a mandatory religious practice under Islam.

The bench was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the guidelines issued by the West Bengal government under the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act ahead of Bakr Eid (Eid al-Adha).

While declining to interfere with the notification, the court observed that the state would be within its rights to examine whether an appropriate mechanism exists for issuing the necessary certificates for animal slaughter under the provisions of the Act and Rules.