The UPA government has removed Holi and Janmasthami from the list of gazetted government holidays. They are now only on the list of Restricted Holidays., along with 32 other festivals and sacred days.
The government'smove is being seen as yet another please-minorities policy. Holi, Dusshera and Diwali are among the most important Hindu festivals. Over the years, Holis has come to represent a social rather than religious occasion, with non-Hindus also joining in the celebrations. By taking these two festivals from the gazetted list, the government has made a statement. Now both strictly Hindu festivals and Muslim festivals are even in number.
According to the present list, there are three holidays for Muslim festivals (id-ul-Juha, Muharram and Milad-un-nabi), three for Hindus (Diwali, Dussehra and Ram Navami), three national festivals (Independence Day, Republic Day and Gandhi Jayanti), two of the Christians (Good Friday and Christmas), Buddha Purnima, Guru Nanak Jayanti, and Mahavir Jayanti.
This Year, Holi falls on a Sunday and therefore, the people may not feel the pinch of losing a holiday.
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