Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will chair a high-level meeting on law and order at Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai on Monday evening, ahead of the upcoming Eid al-Adha celebrations, according to officials from the Chief Minister’s Office. The meeting aims to ensure peace and security across the state during the religious occasion.
The move comes amid heightened sensitivities over animal sacrifice practices associated with the festival. Addressing public concerns, Maharashtra State Minority Commission Chairman Pyare Khan called for a balance between religious observance and communal harmony, urging the community to adhere to both Islamic values and local laws.
“We must follow the teachings of Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) and ensure our sacrifices do not cause distress to others. Islam teaches that our actions should not harm anyone,” Khan stated. “We will instruct the administration accordingly—if no one is affected, sacrifice can take place. But it must never damage mutual brotherhood.”
Highlighting legal restrictions in Maharashtra, Khan added, “There is a ban on bovine meat, and so bovine sacrifice should not be performed. Sacrifices must be limited to animals that are legally permitted—such as goats and camels.”
Eid al-Adha, also known as Bakra Eid, is one of the most significant Islamic festivals and commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. It is celebrated on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and is expected to fall on June 6 this year in most countries.
The festival is marked by prayers, animal sacrifices, and community gatherings, with the meat from sacrificed animals traditionally divided into three parts—one for family, one for friends, and one for the needy.
As the festival approaches, authorities in Maharashtra are keen to ensure that celebrations proceed peacefully and lawfully, with respect for both religious sentiments and public order.