Maharashtra Day, also known as Maharashtra Diwas or Maharashtra Din, is the day when the state of Maharashtra was formed on May 1, 1960, after the partition of Bombay state. The States Reorganisation Act, 1956, defined boundaries for states within India on the basis of languages. Since having two linguistic units in one state didn’t work and hence the Sanyukta Maharashtra Samiti was formed to divide the states on the basis of languages the people spoke. Hence, the state was divided into two parts- one where people spoke Marathi and Konkani was formed as Maharashtra and the other where people spoke Gujarati and Kutchhi was formed as Gujarat. In 2018, Maharashtra will celebrate 58 years of its formation.
Chronology of statehood of Maharashtra
Celebration
Maharashtra Day is marked with parades, political speeches and ceremonies. Each year at Shivaji Park in Dadar, the Governor of Maharashtra gives a speech, followed by a parade by the State Reserve Police Force, Mumbai Police and Home Guards. The day is also celebrated by organising various cultural events that include folk songs, lavani performances and narration of poetries. Flag hoisting is also held at the district headquarters in the presence of guardian ministers as a tribute to martyrs. The day is a public holiday and applies to all schools, offices and companies under the jurisdiction of the State and Central government. The sale of alcohol is prohibited. Maharashtra Day also coincides with International Worker’s Day or Labour Day.
