Maharashtra Day

2021-07-17T14:16:22Z

103.46.202.148: /* Background */

{{short description|Indian holiday}}
{{Infobox holiday
|holiday_name = Maharashtra Day
|type = State
|image = Maharashtra_State_map.jpg
|imagesize =
|caption = [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], [[Yashwantrao Chavan]] and [[Sri Prakasa]] unveiling a map of the new state of Maharashtra at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai, on 1 May 1960
|nickname = Maharashtra Din
|observedby = [[Maharashtra]], India
|litcolor =
|longtype =
|significance = The day the state of Maharashtra was formed by the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960
|begins =
|ends =
|date =1 May
|duration =1 day
|frequency =Annual
|celebrations =[[Parade]]s
|observances =
|relatedto =
}}
'''Maharashtra Day''', commonly known as '''Maharashtra Din''' ([[Marathi language|Marathi]]: महाराष्ट्र दिन) is a state holiday<ref name=hol>{{cite web|url=http://www.officeholidays.com/countries/india/maharashtra/2014.php|title=Public Holidays in Maharashtra, India in 2014 – Office Holidays|author=|date=|website=www.officeholidays.com}}</ref> in the [[States of india|Indian state]] of [[Maharashtra]], commemorating the formation of the state of Maharashtra<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maharashtratourism.net/festivals/maharashtra-day.html|title=Maharashtra Day – Maharashtra Day Celebration|author=|date=|website=www.maharashtratourism.net}}</ref> from the division of the [[Bombay State]] on 1 May 1960.<ref name=hol/> 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. It is celebrated to commemorate the creation of a Marathi speaking state of Maharashtra.

==Background==
The States Reorganisation Act, 1956 defined boundaries for the states within India on the basis of languages.<ref>{{cite web | title=THE STATES REORGANISATION ACT, 1956|url=http://www.indiankanoon.org/doc/1211891/|publisher=[[Government of India]]|accessdate=December 6, 2012}}</ref> The [[Bombay State]] that was formed as a consequence of this act, however, was composed of different areas where different languages were spoken; [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Kutchi language|Kutchi]] and [[Konkani language|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 Kutchi and the other where people primarily spoke Marathi and Konkani.<ref>{{cite book | last=Guha |first=Ramachandra |title=India After Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy | year=2008 | publisher=Harper Perennial | page=320}}</ref><ref name="KaminskyLong2011">{{cite book|last1=Kaminsky|first1=Arnold P.|last2=Long|first2=Roger D.|title=India Today: An Encyclopedia of Life in the Republic|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wWDnTWrz4O8C&pg=PA440|accessdate=30 April 2012|date=23 September 2011|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-37462-3|page=440}}</ref>

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,<ref>{{cite web|title=THE BOMBAY RE-ORGANISATION ACT, 1960 No.11 OF 1960|url=http://www.legalhelpindia.com/bareacts/THE%20BOMBAY%20RE-ORGANISATION%20ACT,%201960%20No.11%20OF%201960.doc|publisher=[[Government of India]]|accessdate=December 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203075507/http://www.legalhelpindia.com/bareacts/THE%20BOMBAY%20RE-ORGANISATION%20ACT,%201960%20No.11%20OF%201960.doc|archive-date=December 3, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> hence the reason of annual celebration.

==Observance==
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.<ref>{{cite web | title=Public Holiday – 2015 | work=[[Government of Maharashtra]] | url=https://www.maharashtra.gov.in/PDF/HolidayList-2015.pdf | publisher=[[Government of Maharashtra]] | accessdate=May 11, 2015}}</ref>

==Customs==
Every year a parade is held at [[Shivaji Park]] where the [[Governor|Governor of Maharashtra]] makes a speech.{{cn|date=April 2019}}

Liquor sales to Indians are prohibited on this day across Maharashtra, excluding foreigners.<ref>{{cite web | title=List of dry days to be followed by retail licensee every year | work=Commissionarate of State Excise, Maharashtra State | url=http://stateexcise.maharashtra.gov.in/EXCISE/list_of__dry_days.htm | publisher=[[Government of Maharashtra]] | accessdate=December 6, 2012}}</ref>

==Unique or historical celebrations==
The [[Golden Jubilee]] celebrations for Maharashtra Day were conducted on 1 May 2011 across Maharashtra.<ref>{{cite web | title=Maharashtra's golden jubilee grand finale on Monday | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-30/mumbai/29490594_1_finale-jubilee-celebrations | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126053445/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-30/mumbai/29490594_1_finale-jubilee-celebrations | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 26, 2013 | work=[[The Times of India]] | accessdate=December 6, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Maharashtra: Political parties gear up for a grand golden jubilee day | url=http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/apr/29/how-maha-will-celebrate-its-golden-jubilee-day.htm | work = [[rediff.com]] | accessdate=December 6, 2012}}</ref>

==Inaugurations and launching of new projects and schemes==
In Maharashtra [[Government of 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.{{cn|date=April 2019}}

The [[Marathi Wikipedia|Marathi language Wikipedia]] was started on 1 May 2003.{{cn|date=April 2019}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Indian state foundation days}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Culture of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:May observances]]
[[Category:Indian state foundation days]]

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Maharashtra Day