Mangaluru: Milad-un-Nabi will be observed in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts on Tuesday, August 25, following the decision of the Qazis of both districts based on the sighting of the moon.
The change comes after the Karnataka government had initially scheduled the public holiday for Milad-un-Nabi on August 26. The holiday date has now been advanced by a day in accordance with the Islamic lunar calendar.
Qazis decide date based on moon sighting
Milad-un-Nabi, which commemorates the birth of Prophet Muhammad, is observed according to the Islamic lunar calendar. As the calendar is based on the sighting of the moon, the date of observance can vary from the date initially listed in official calendars.
Following the moon sighting, the Qazis of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi decided that this year’s Milad-un-Nabi observance would take place on August 25.
The decision prompted Muslim organisations in the coastal districts to seek a corresponding change in the government holiday.
Muslim organisations seek holiday change
Several leaders of Muslim organisations from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi approached Health and Family Welfare, Haj and Wakf, and Dakshina Kannada district in-charge Minister U T Khader, requesting that the government holiday be advanced to August 25.
The organisations pointed out that the date fixed earlier by the state government did not correspond with the revised date of the religious observance following the moon sighting.
Their request was subsequently taken up with the state administration.
Khader asks officials to take steps
Responding to the request, Minister U T Khader instructed the Deputy Commissioners of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts to take the necessary steps regarding the change in the holiday date.
He also directed the Chief Secretary to initiate the required administrative process to declare August 25 as the government public holiday for Milad-un-Nabi.
The move is intended to ensure that the official holiday corresponds with the date decided by the religious authorities in the two coastal districts.
Holiday follows Islamic calendar
The date of Milad-un-Nabi is determined according to the Islamic Hijri calendar, and observance can differ depending on local moon-sighting decisions.
In Karnataka, the government had initially announced August 26 as the public holiday. Following the latest decision by the Qazis in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, the holiday has been sought to be brought forward to August 25 in these districts.
The change is particularly relevant to government offices, educational institutions and other establishments that follow the state government’s holiday calendar.
Preparations for Milad observance
With the observance scheduled for August 25, Muslim communities across Dakshina Kannada and Udupi are expected to conduct Milad-related religious programmes and gatherings.
Milad-un-Nabi is traditionally marked through prayers, religious discourses, processions and community programmes in different parts of the region.
The decision to align the public holiday with the locally determined date is expected to facilitate participation in the observances.
The district administrations will take the necessary steps following the instructions issued by the minister and the state government.
The change also reflects the importance of coordinating official holiday schedules with religious dates determined according to the lunar calendar.