Eid-ul-Fitr: Haryana declares restricted holiday instead of gazetted. Details here

Eid-ul Fitr: The Haryana government announced on Thursday that Eid-ul-Fitr will be observed as a restricted holiday rather than a Gazetted Holiday in the state.

The state government announced that the Gazetted Holiday on March 31 will be changed to a restricted holiday, as Monday marks the closing day of the financial year.

“In partial modification of the Government Notification issued vide even number dated 26.12.2024, it is notified that Eid-ul-Fitr, i.e., 31st March 2025, shall be observed as a Restricted Holiday (Schedule-II) instead of a Gazetted Holiday, due to the fact that 29th and 30th March 2025 are weekend off days and 31st March being the closing day of the Financial Year 2024-2025,” the Haryana governments latest notification stated.

In India, Eid-ul-Fitr is likely to be celebrated on March 31, Friday, which is also the closing day of the financial year 2024-25.

What is a restricted holiday?

A gazetted holiday is mandatory and officially declared by the government, observed by all, while a restricted holiday is optional, allowing employees to choose based on personal preferences or religious observances.

Government offices, banks, and many businesses are typically closed on gazetted holidays. For restricted holidays, employees can choose to take a limited number of restricted holidays from their employer.

Eid-ul-Fitr, now being a restricted holiday in Haryana, means that all offices under Haryana government would be open on that day. Employees can choose whether to take a holiday for Eid.

When is Eid-ul-Fitr in India

In India, depending on when the moon is sighted, Eid-ul-Fitr is likely to be celebrated on March 31, Friday. It is also the closing day of the financial year 2024-25.

Eid-ul-Fitr is usually celebrated a day after the moon is sighted. If the moon is sighted on March 31, then Eid would be celebrated on April 1.

Eid-ul-Fitr: Bank holiday in India

The Reserve Bank of India, which had initially declared March 31 a bank holiday, has cancelled it as it is the last day of the financial year and the deadline for completing financial transactions.

Banks in the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir are likely to have extended holidays this week, from Thursday, March 27, for Shab-I-Qadr to Friday Jumat prayers on March 28, Sunday weekly off on March 30, and Ramzan Eid on March 31. Read here.

Eid-ul-Fitr: Why is moon sighting important?

The date of Eid-ul-Fitr is determined by the cycle of the moon, as the start of any lunar (Hijri) month varies based on when the new moon is sighted by local religious authorities. Eid al-Fitr falls on the first day of the tenth month, Shawwal, in the Islamic calendar.