Close X
Friday, September 20, 2024
ADVT 
International

Diwali and Eid to be declared Holiday in Britain?

Darpan News Desk Darpan, 01 Jun, 2014 02:01 PM
    An online petition to the British House of Commons has urged the politicians to create a bank holiday for Hindu Diwali and Muslim Eid festival in the country, a media report said.
     
    The petition has 119,000 signatures and could be debated in the British parliament as the e-petition with over 100,000 signatures qualifies to be considered in the parliament under the rules of e-petition scheme in 2011, Daily Mail reported Sunday.
     
    The two holidays would be the first non-Christian religious holidays in Britain and could lead to calls from other faiths for their events to also be recognised. 
     
     
    Details of the petition are said to have been passed to the Backbench Business Committee of the British House of Commons, which will consider its suitability for debate.
     
    The petition, titled "Make Eid & Diwali Public Holidays", set up by Jon Timmis said: "I believe that, given the number of Muslims and Hindus in this country it is only fair we allow them to have the most important days in their faiths recognised in law."
     
    Diwali is known as the "Festival of Lights" , while Eid is held at the end of Ramadan when Muslims break their fast. 
     
    The e-petition has sparked widespread debate on internet forums and social media, especially those aimed at British Muslims and Hindus, the report said.
     
    The religious and community leaders have distanced themselves from the idea, it added.
     
    Britain has eight bank holidays every year, the second lowest in the world behind Mexico.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Monica Lewinsky on Clinton Affair: 'Time To Burn The Beret And Bury The Blue Dress'

    Monica Lewinsky on Clinton Affair: 'Time To Burn The Beret And Bury The Blue Dress'
    Breaking her silence over the scandalous affair in the 1990s with Clinton - which led to the then president's impeachment by US Congress - with an unmistakable reference to the dress stained by presidential indiscretion, she also says: "I, myself, deeply regret what happened between me and President Clinton."

    Monica Lewinsky on Clinton Affair: 'Time To Burn The Beret And Bury The Blue Dress'

    Russia rejects Geneva talks, denies US concerns

    Russia rejects Geneva talks, denies US concerns
    Russia Tuesday ruled out holding a fresh round of talks in Geneva for defusing the Ukraine crisis and refuted the US military's concerns that the activity of long-range warplanes over the Pacific is linked to Ukraine.

    Russia rejects Geneva talks, denies US concerns

    Armed forces uniform for Halloween party lands Indian in trouble

    Armed forces uniform for Halloween party lands Indian in trouble
    An Indian man was fined 2000 dirhams (about $545) by a Dubai court after being spotted in a UAE armed forces officer's dress that he wore to a Halloween party, a report said.

    Armed forces uniform for Halloween party lands Indian in trouble

    South Africa calls for abducted Nigerian girls' release

    South Africa calls for abducted Nigerian girls' release
    The South African government Tuesday appealed to the global community, the African Union (AU) and the Nigerian government to do whatever they can for the release of over 200 girls abducted by Boko Haram, a Nigerian radical group.

    South Africa calls for abducted Nigerian girls' release

    Fall in US unemployment rate fails to enthuse markets

    Fall in US unemployment rate fails to enthuse markets
    Headline economic data releases point out that a gradual and sustained recovery in the US economy is underway.

    Fall in US unemployment rate fails to enthuse markets

    No animal testing for synthetic cannabis: New Zealand PM

    No animal testing for synthetic cannabis: New Zealand PM
    New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key Monday ruled out testing legal drugs, including synthetic cannabis, on animals, days after parliament banned the drugs' sale until proven as low-risk.

    No animal testing for synthetic cannabis: New Zealand PM