[Muslims offering Eid al Adha prayers at Jama Masjid in Old Delhi. (File photo)]
New Delhi: The confusion over Eid al Adha holiday in Delhi following Shahi Imam's hasty announcement over sighting of the new moon of the month of Dhul Hijjah in Delhi refuses to recede even after over a week of his misadventure.
On Sunday August 12, 2018 when moon sighting committees in whole of India, including those controlled by Jamiate Ulema and Imarate Shariah Patna, were still busy in meetings, Shahi Imam Ahmed Bukhari in an unnecssary haste announced on his letterhead that Dhul Hijjah moon was not sighted in Delhi and around. And, hence Eid al Adha will be celebrated on Thursday August 23, 2018.
Shahi Imam's announcement was soon flashed by most of the media outlets. Some news agencies also relied on Shahi Imam's announcement and declared August 23, 2018 as the first day of Eid al Adha.
This was exactly the time when moon sighting reports from Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and some other parts of the country had started pouring in, and moon sighting committees in Delhi, Lucknow and other places were busy in confirming these reports.
By about 10:30 am, confirmations came in and consequently Imarat-e-Shariah Markazi Hilal Committee of Jamait Ulema Delhi announced that Eid al Adha will be celebrated in India on August 22, 2018. Other moon sighting committees including those in Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna, Kolkata and other places soon followed the Imarat-e-Shariah and made similar announcements.
However, Shahi Imam Ahmed Bukhari did not find it necessary to revoke his earlier statement and issue a fresh statement in line with the decision taken by Imarat-e-Shariah and other moon sighting committees of the country.
Its result was that the Narendra Modi government in New Delhi changed the government holiday for Eid al Adha, which was earlier fixed on August 22, 2018, to August 23, 2018.
“It has been brought to notice of this ministry that in Delhi Id-ul-Zuha will be celebrated on 23rd August, 2018. Accordingly, it has been dicided to shift the holiday to 23rd August, 2018 in place of 22 August, 2018 notified earlier, for all Central Government administrative offices at Delhi/New Delhi", the government’s Department of Personal Training said, in a notification issued on August 14, 2018.
After the government notification, the Supreme Court of India also announced that it will continue to function on 22 August and the top court will remain closed on 23 August instead.
"It is hereby notified for information of all concerned that as the Government of India has declared that Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) will now be observed on 23rd August, 2018 (Thursday) and as approved by the Competent Authority, the Hon'ble Court and Registry will also remain closed on the said date, and 22nd August, 2018 (Wednesday) will now be observed as working day", the Supreme Court said in a circular issued on August 16, 2018.
This means that when the Muslims all over India, will celebrate Eid al Adha and enjoy holiday, government staff in Delhi will have to go to work. This has happened only because of the misadventure of Shahi Imam Ahmed Bukhari who is already slammed for the haste he had shown while making Eid al Adha moon announcement.
Meanwhile, Muslims all of India have already entered festive made and massive preparation is on everywhere, including New Delhi, to celebrate Eid al Adha on Wednesday August 22, 2018. Since animal sacrifice is the key ritual of this annual festival, Muslims have purchased goats and other animals for the purpose.
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