When is Bakrid 2026 – May 27 or 28? Center Revises Eid al-Adha — 2-day holiday in Kerala, West Bengal? | Today’s news
Bakrid Date 2026: As the date of Bakrid festival approaches, there is confusion surrounding the holiday. Also known as Eid al-Adha or the Festival of the Sacrifice, the auspicious occasion will be celebrated by Muslims across India a day later than the scheduled holiday in the 2026 calendar, on May 28. This date change occurred due to the sighting of the crescent moon on May 18, which marked the beginning of the Islamic month of Zil Hijja.
Unlike Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha is celebrated on the 10th day after the sighting of the crescent moon. Muslim organization Imarat-e-Sharia Hind, Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri Mosque in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk and Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Syed Shaban Bukhari announced that the three-day festivities will start from May 28 instead of May 27.
Read also | Eid al-Adha 2026: Why Muslims in Kashmir are celebrating on the 27th
This holiday commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s absolute willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail in deep obedience to Allah (God). According to the scriptures, Ismail was given life and a sacrificial animal was offered in his place. Therefore, members of the Muslim community celebrate this day by sacrificing animals.
The center declares May 28 a public holiday
All central government offices across India will remain closed on May 28 due to Eid-ul-Azha. “The Central Government Administrative Offices located in Delhi/New Delhi will remain closed on May 28, 2026 on account of Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) (instead of May 27, 2026),” the Ministry of Personnel said in a statement on May 22.
Read also | Eid al-Adha 2026: Why Muslims in Kashmir are celebrating on the 27th
BJP-led Bengal shortens Bakrid holiday by 1 day
The Suvendu Adhikari-led West Bengal government on 23 May declared that 28 May would be observed as a public holiday in view of the Bakrid celebrations. The authorities have restructured their previously established holiday calendar and shortened the 2-day holiday scheduled for May 26 and 27 to one day of holiday.
The order specified that both dates will now function as standard working days: “In terms of Notification No. 4188-F(P2) dated November 27, 2025, May 26, 2026 (Tuesday) and May 27, 2026 (Wednesday) were declared public holidays a-Uak-Zha the day before Idridd Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid) and Now was information received that Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid) will be observed on 28 May 2026 (Thursday) on account of Id-Ud-Zoha (Bakrid).
According to an official administrative directive, the previous Bakrid holidays would now be treated as normal working days for all government offices and establishments covered by the notification.
Read also | Bakrid Eid 2026: Government offices in Delhi will remain closed on May 28
Two day holiday for Bakrid in Kerala
The Kerala government has declared a two-day public holiday for Bakrid. On May 24, the state administration declared May 27 and 28 as a festival holiday. A notification issued by the Ministry of General Administration said, “In view of ‘Id-Ul-Ad’ha’ (Bakrid) being celebrated in the state on May 28, the government is pleased to order that Thursday, May 28, 2026 will also be a holiday.”
She further clarified that Wednesday and Thursday will be non-working days for all government offices in the state, including all public sector undertakings, educational institutions, including professional colleges and institutions under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
Jammu and Kashmir to celebrate Bakrid on 27 May
Although several governments and institutions have adjusted their holiday schedules due to the revised Bakrid date, Jammu and Kashmir will observe the festival a day earlier on May 27. Keeping in view the local moon sighting traditions, Jammu and Kashmir will continue to observe the festival on the same day when Saudi Arabia and other West Asian countries celebrate the festival.
In Kashmir, local clerics confirmed that a crescent moon was sighted on May 17. Accordingly, 18 May 2026 was observed as the first day of Zil Hajj. Thus, Muslims in Kashmir will celebrate Eid al-Adha on Wednesday, May 27.
