Thiruvananthapuram,24 May (H.S) :

The Kerala government has announced a two-day public holiday in the state in connection with Bakrid (Eid al-Adha), extending the holiday beyond the date originally listed in the official calendar.

In addition to the previously scheduled holiday on May 27, the government has now also declared May 28 a holiday after religious authorities confirmed a revised date for the festival.

The holidays will fall on Wednesday and Thursday. According to the official calendar, the Bakrid holiday had initially been fixed for May 27. However, the date of the festival underwent a change after reports confirmed that the crescent moon marking the beginning of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah was not sighted as expected.

As a result, May 19, a Tuesday, was declared as the first day of Dhul Hijjah. Based on the Islamic lunar calendar, Bakrid, which is observed on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah, will therefore be celebrated on May 28 instead of the earlier date.

The revised festival date was announced by prominent religious leaders and Islamic scholars in the state. Those who confirmed the change included representatives of the Joint Mahal Jamaat and leading religious authorities from various Islamic organisations in Kerala.

Among those who announced the revised observance date were Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, representatives of Syed Ibrahimul Khalil Al Bukhari, Palayam Imam Dr. V.P. Suhaib Maulavi, and South Kerala Jamiat-ul-Ulama General Secretary Thodiyoor Muhammad Kunju Maulavi.

The state government’s decision to extend the holiday is aimed at ensuring that public institutions, schools, offices and establishments align with the revised date of celebration, allowing people across Kerala to observe the festival without disruption.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman