Call for Uniformity in Festival Dates to Eliminate Confusion: Memorandum Submitted to LG Manoj Sinha
||Black and White Digital News ||
||January 11, 2025||
JAMMU: In a significant development aimed at resolving societal confusion surrounding the dates of festivals and fasts, Mahant Rohit Shastri, President of Shri Kailakh Jyotish Avim Vedic Sansthan Trust, Jammu and Kashmir, submitted a memorandum to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Honorable Manoj Sinha, at Raj Bhavan on Friday. The memorandum highlights the recurring discrepancies in festival dates declared in government calendars versus those in almanacs, urging corrective action to prevent such issues in the future.
The Core Issue
Mahant Rohit Shastri raised concerns over the misalignment of festival dates in the government-declared holidays and astrological calendars, which has been a recurring issue in recent years. These discrepancies, he stated, lead to societal confusion, especially for religious festivals like Diwali.
Citing an example from 2024, he noted that the Diwali holiday caused widespread uncertainty, with differences in dates between government and astrological references. A similar issue is already emerging for 2025, with the Government of India calendar marking Diwali on October 20, while the Jammu and Kashmir government has declared it on October 21. Such conflicts, he emphasized, not only confuse the public but also raise questions about the credibility of scholars and astrological traditions.
Proposed Solutions:
To address this issue, Mahant Rohit Shastri suggested the following:
1. Consultation with Experts: Before finalizing government holiday calendars, consultations should be held with expert astrologers and scholars to ensure alignment between astrological calculations and official declarations.
2. Uniform Festival Dates: A uniform declaration of festival dates nationwide, particularly for major occasions like Diwali, should be made to eliminate discrepancies.
3. Cultural Unity: Aligning festival dates across the country will promote cultural harmony and prevent divisions caused by conflicting schedules.
Appeal to the Government:
Mahant Shastri urged the Lieutenant Governor to take up this matter with urgency and involve relevant stakeholders, including astrologers, religious scholars, and government officials, to find a lasting solution. He emphasized that accurate astrological calculations should be prioritized in determining holidays, ensuring societal clarity and upholding the credibility of India’s rich cultural and astrological heritage.
Broader Implications:
This issue goes beyond the administrative realm, touching on the cultural and spiritual fabric of the nation. Ensuring uniformity in festival dates is crucial not just for practical reasons but also for preserving the sanctity of religious practices and fostering national unity.
The memorandum submitted by Mahant Rohit Shastri highlights a critical yet often overlooked issue in governance. If addressed effectively, it could lead to a more harmonious integration of traditional practices with modern administrative frameworks. As the matter gains attention, it remains to be seen how the Jammu and Kashmir administration, along with the central government, responds to these concerns.
