The Jammu Kashmir Civil Society Forum (JKCSF) has raised concerns over the government’s handling of religious holidays, highlighting issues with the recognition of lunar calendar dates.
In a statement issued on Monday, JKCSF Chairman Abdul Qayoom Wani criticized the government for its failure to adjust the official calendar and attendance systems to reflect the correct dates of Islamic holidays.
He explained that the Islamic calendar is lunar, meaning dates can vary based on the moon’s appearance, necessitating adjustments to scheduled holidays and festivals.
Wani pointed out that this issue was evident during Eid ul-Fitr 2024, when government attendance systems did not accommodate the holiday’s variable date, leading to confusion and employee absences. A similar problem has arisen with Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW), which is observed on September 17. Despite this, the government’s calendar and attendance systems mistakenly mark it for September 16.
“Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) is a highly revered day for Muslims, who perform special devotions and visit shrines such as Hazratbal in Srinagar,” Wani said. “Declaring September 17 as a working day is unfair to the Muslim community, who are left in a state of confusion and unable to observe the day properly.”
JKCSF has called for an investigation into why the holiday date was not updated and urged the government to issue a special casual leave for employees on September 17 to allow them to participate in religious activities. The forum also emphasized the need for measures to prevent similar oversights in the future.