Raipur: The Chhattisgarh Waqf Board has announced a change in the timing of Friday prayers in mosques across the state this year due to the overlap with Holi celebrations. An official notice has been sent to all mosques regarding the new schedule.
According to the directive, the Friday prayers, typically held between 12:30 PM and 1:00 PM, will now take place between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM on March 14. Chhattisgarh Waqf Board Chairman Dr. Salim Raj explained, “Considering the Holi festival, the Friday prayers will be held between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM in all mosques. This is a change from the usual timing of 12:30 PM or 1:00 PM, and Chhattisgarh is the first state in India to implement this adjustment.”
In a similar move, authorities in Haridwar (Uttarakhand) and Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) have also postponed the Friday prayers to the afternoon to avoid overlapping with Holika Dahan celebrations on March 14, the day of Holi.
Haridwar Superintendent of Police Pankaj Gairola confirmed that after discussions with community representatives, it was decided that Friday prayers would be held after 2:30 PM. He added, “We consulted with representatives from Jwalapur, and a peaceful agreement was reached. The prayer timing will be after 2:30 PM, and any attempt to disrupt peace will be dealt with strictly.”
Maulana Arif Qasmi from Jamia Ulama Uttarakhand highlighted the importance of maintaining peace and unity between Hindus and Muslims in the region. “There has never been any conflict in our area, and we all agreed to hold the Friday prayers at 2:30 PM,” he said.
In Gorakhpur, Mufti Munawwar Raza, Imam of Mubarak Khan Dargah, also supported the change, noting the significance of both festivals. “A meeting was held, and it was decided that the Friday prayers will be held after 2 PM to avoid any clashes,” he added.