Maharashtra Day

 

 

 

Maharashtra Day

Maharashtra Day

Also called Maharashtra Diwas, Maharashtra Din

Observed by Maharashtra, India, Marathi speaking areas of north Karnataka including Belgaum, places with significant number of Marathi speakers.

Significance The day the state of Maharashtra was formed by the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960

Celebrations Parades

Date 1 May

Next time 1 May 2017

Frequency annual

Maharashtra Day, (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र दिन) commonly known as Maharashtra Diwas also referred to as Maharashtra Din is a state holiday[1] in the Indian state of Maharashtra, commemorating the formation of the state of Maharashtra[2] from the division of the Bombay State on 1 May 1960. Maharashtra Day is commonly associated with parades and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history and traditions of Maharashtra.

BackgroundEdit

The States Reorganisation Act, 1956 defined boundaries for the states within India on the basis of languages.[3] The Bombay State that was formed as a consequence of this act, however, was composed of different areas where different languages were spoken; Marathi, Gujarati, Kutchi and Konkani. The Sanyukta Maharashtra Samiti was at the forefront of the movement to divide the Bombay State into two states; one composed of areas where people primarily spoke Gujarati and Kutchhi and the other where people primarily spoke Marathi and Konkani.[4][5]

The state of Maharashtra and Gujarat were formed as a result of this movement according to the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960 enacted by the Parliament of India on 25 April 1960. The act came into effect on 1 May 1960,[6] hence the reason of annual celebration.

ObservanceEdit

Every year the Government of Maharashtra issues a notification declaring the 1st of May to be a public holiday to be celebrated as Maharashtra Day. This holiday applies to all the schools, offices and companies under the jurisdiction of the State and central Government celebrate this day by organising various programmes.[7]

CustomsEdit

Every year a parade is held at Shivaji Park where the Governor of Maharashtra makes a speech.

Liquor sales to Indians are prohibited on this day across Maharashtra, excluding foreigners.[8]

Unique or historical celebrationsEdit

The Golden Jubilee celebrations for Maharashtra Day were conducted on 1 May 2011 across Maharashtra.[9][10]

Inaugurations and launching of new projects and schemesEdit

In Maharashtra state government and private sector inaugurates and launches various new projects and schemes on 1 May. Annual celebrations of such institutions and projects are also held on Maharashtra Day.

The Marathi language Wikipedia was started on 1 May 2003.

References

Last edited 28 days ago by an anonymous user

Related articles

    Bombay State

    former state of India

    History of Bombay in independent India

    Mahagujarat movement

    1956 political movement demanding the creation of Gujarat state from Bombay state

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