Maharashtra Day

Held on : 1st May

Maharashtra is an Indian state located in it's western part. The word Maharashtra comes from the words 'Maha' meaning 'Great' and 'Rashtra' meaning 'Nation'. Mumbai, the capital city of the state, is India's largest city and the financial capital of the nation. Marathi is the native language of Maharashtra. Maharashtra is known for Chhatrapati Shivaji who stood against the Mughals who were ruling a large part of India. He created an an independent Maratha kingdom with Raigad as its capital. The state of Maharashtra is full of colour, glory and grandeur. Maharashtra Day celebrates it's formation and it's all over richness amongst all sates of India.

History

In1947, when India became an Independent nation, Bombay in Western India, was a separate state with the areas in the existing Maharashtra and Gujarat states. In 1950s Samyukta Maharshtra Samiti (SMS) spearheaded the demand for creation of a separate Marathi speaking state out of the then bilingual State of Bombay. The demand was in line with the pledge, the Indian National Congress had taken for linguistic states prior to Independence. But Nehru was opposed to linguistic states.  The Central Government did not pay any heed to popular demand for creation of Maharashtra even though the states Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka were formed on linguistic basis in 1950.

The Marathi populace were tired of the adamant attitude of the then Government at the Centre, so they decided to fight against it. The government used force to suppress the demand. More than hundred people were killed when the police opened fire at Flora Fountain in Mumbai. Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti (SMS) achieved its goal when Maharashtra and Gujarat were divided into separate states, with Mumbai as the capital of Maharashtra, on 1st May, 1960, under the Bombay Re-Organization Act. It is to commemorate this tragic incident that Flora Fountain is renamed since then as Hutatma Smarak.

However Goa (then a Portages Colony), Belgaum, Karwar and adjoining areas, part of the Maharashtra State envisioned by the Samiti, were not included in the newly formed state. Even to this day Belgaum district with a majority of Marathi speaking people is an active dispute with a petition by the Maharashtra government pending in Supreme Court.

Events

• In Mumbai, the Maharashtra Day celebrations are held at the Shivaji Park in central Mumbai. The governor of the state takes the salute at the ceremonial parade, comprising members of the State Reserve Police Force, Brihanmumbai Commando Force, Home Guards, Civil Defence, Fire Brigade and City Police.

• Along with the state capital, the guardian ministers of respective districts hoist the Tri-Colour at the district headquarters early in the morning to commemorate the Day and pay tributes to the martyrs.

• On this occasion several distinguished individuals are also honoured for their contribution. Illustrious teachers, police officials, sportsmen, doctors are congratulated for their effective roles in their respective fields.

• All Maharashtrians irrespective of their caste, creed, religion or colour are equally excited because it marks the day Maharashtra attained statehood. It was on this day that the state eventually developed into religiously refined, culturally enriched, socially improved, economically powerful and commercially commanding state.

Holiday Status - It is not a Holiday.