Kerala Government Shifts Eid Al-Adha Holiday To Saturday; Sparks Criticism
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has changed the Bakrid (Eid al-Adha) holiday to Saturday, June 7. Earlier the holiday was decided on Friday.
The Eid Al-Adha holiday was granted for only one day, despite demands for a two-day break, after the festive occasion’s timing was changed due to the delayed sighting of the crescent moon, as per the Islamic lunar calendar.
Read Also: Kerala To Celebrate Eid Ul Adha On June 7
Reacting to the revocation of holiday on Friday, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) state secretory PMA Salam said the government’s decision is condemnable. The Muslim League leader sought that Friday should be declared holiday for Eid Al-Adha, given that there are no holidays for the occasion as the festive day falls on Saturday. The Arafah fasting on Friday is also important for the believers, he pointed out.
Kerala Pradesh School Teachers Association (KPSTA) has also criticised the state government’s decision to cancel Bakrid holiday marked for Friday in calendar. As per Holiday calendar, Bakrid leave in Kerala is on Friday, the association highlighted, adding that with this move, the government has refused to provide a single holiday for the festivity, especially for students who already enjoy offs on Saturdays.
Several Muslim bodies and political organisations have also demanded not to cancel the holiday on Friday. Organisations that expressed opposition to the government’s decision include IUML, INL, Kerala Students Union (KSU), Kerala Muslim Jama’ath etc.
Day of ‘Arafah and its highly desirable fasting will be done on Friday in Kerala, while the Arafah day will be observed on June five in Gulf countries.
Read Also: Eid Al Adha Holidays Announced In These GCC Countries
GCC countries including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman will celebrate Eid Al-Adha on June 6, Friday. Known as the festive of sacrifice, Eid Al Adha is celebrated by Muslims across the world. The day symbolises unshattered faith, sacrifice, and firm belief in Allah.
Eid Al-Adha falls with the end of Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca.
