Imphal: The Manipur Meitei Pangal Welfare Organisation (MMWO) has expressed ‘deep concern and dissatisfaction’ regarding the non-inclusion of Eid-ul-Adha (Bakra Eid), scheduled to be observed on Saturday, 7th June 2025, as a holiday by the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, ‘the largest and most prestigious medical institution’ in the state of Manipur.
Despite the official circular issued by the deputy director (Administration) of RIMS on December 19, 2024, which includes a list of General Holidays and Restricted Holidays for the year 2025, Eid-ul-Adha has not been recognized as a holiday. This exclusion is highly unfortunate and disappointing, especially considering that Eid-ul-Adha is one of the most significant religious festivals celebrated by Muslims across the world, including the Meitei Pangal community of Manipur, said Firoj Khan Sangomsumbam, secretary general, MMWO, in a statement released on Tuesday.
“MMWO strongly questions the reasoning behind the exclusion of such an important religious festival from the holiday list. This decision appears to be discriminatory and insensitive to the religious sentiments and cultural identity of the Meitei Pangal community. It fails to reflect the inclusive and secular values that institutions of national importance like RIMS are expected to uphold,” it said.
“Therefore, MMWO demands that RIMS immediately declare Saturday, 7th June 2025, as a holiday on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha, in order to allow Muslim employees, students, and staff to celebrate this sacred festival with dignity, peace, and spiritual fulfillment.”
“Failure to acknowledge and rectify this oversight would be viewed as an act of religious exclusion, and MMWO will be compelled to take up the matter with higher authorities, both at the state and national level,” the organization said.
“We urge the RIMS administration to act promptly and inclusively by recognizing Eid-ul-Adha as an official holiday and announce the necessary amendments to the holiday list without delay.”
