Central government declares Bakrid holiday on August 23

The Central government on Tuesday, August 14, announced a change in the dates of holiday for Id-ul-Zuha aka Bakrid (also Eid-al-Adha), which was to fall on August 22.

The notification from the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions said this change pertained to all central government offices in Delhi. However, there is no word on whether this change of holiday will be reflected across the country, and at the state government level.

It said in the notification, "All Central government administrative offices located at Delhi and New Delhi shall remain closed on August 23, 2018, on account of Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) holiday (in place of August 22, 2018)."

It is now up to the states to issue similar notifications if they think a similar change in holiday is warranted under their jurisdiction. Their decision will also govern the holidays of central government offices in these states.

The ministry intimated the change to all central government departments in an internal memo, wherein it also explained the reason behind the change of the date.

It said in this memo, "As per list of holidays circulated vide this Ministry's OM No 12/3/2017-JCA-2 dated June 14, 2017, the holiday on account of Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) falls on Wednesday the August 22, 2018. It has been brought to notice of this Ministry that in Delhi Id-ul-Zuha will be celebrated on August 23, 2018. Accordingly, it has been decided to shift the holiday to August 23, 2018 in place of August 22, 2018 as notified earlier, for all Central government administrative offices at Delhi / New Delhi."

It added, "For offices outside Delhi / New Delhi, the Employees Coordination Committees or Head of Offices (where such committees are not functioning) can decide the date depending upon the decision of the concerned state government."