Eid e Milad is an important day in Islam, a day that marks the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. The day is observed and celebrated to commemorate his birth and honor his teachings and life philosophies. Eid e Milad generally falls in the third month of the Islamic Calendar, Rabi al-Awwal each year and it coincides with the month of late August/early September. In India, Eid e Milad 2025 will be celebrated on September 5 and 6, taking into account the moon sighting. If you celebrate Eid e Milad, here’s all that you need to know about this day!
Eid e Milad 2025: Significance, Celebration, Updates, and More
Significance of Eid e Milad 2025: Why Is Eid e Milad Celebrated?
Eid e Milad is an important day for Muslims as it is a day for them to reconnect with Prophet Muhammad’s teachings and re-evaluate their learnings. The day marks Prophet Muhammad’s birth, and it is said that he left Earth on the same day years later.
It is believed that he was born in 570 CE in Mecca on the 12th day of Rabi al-Awwal. Many legends say that it was the Muslim ruler Muzaffar al-Din Gökböri who first celebrated this day.
In 1588, the mighty Ottoman Empire designated it as an official holiday under the name of Mevlid Kandil. And cut to 2025, the day is celebrated globally, with celebrations in South Asia being particularly noteworthy.
Prophet Muhammad conveyed with him the Message of Truth and acted as a messenger of Allah, the only mighty force guiding the world as per Islam. He taught the teachings of the Almighty and guided millions on the path to enlightenment and righteousness.
Eid e Milad Celebration in India
India, the birthplace of Urdu, is a land where Muslim festivals are celebrated in just as much fervor as festivals of any other religion. Eid e Milad, though celebrated widely across India, is more of a day of observance than a grand celebration.
Muslims celebrate the day by taking out large processions in honor of the Prophet. People clean and decorate their homes with religious symbols, flowers, and other decorations. Extended families come together to celebrate, mainly by sharing food and honoring the teachings of the Prophet. Children are told about the stories of Prophet Muhammad and are reminded of his teachings.
On this special occasion, many families make elaborate meals and invite family and friends. While there are a lot of dishes, both sweet and savory, that grace the table, one dish that particularly stands out is the sevaiyan kheer. It is a common sweet preparation in the Indian subcontinent. It is essentially vermicelli noodles slow-cooked and simmered in milk infused with cardamom and other fragrant spices and nuts.
The dish is a beloved Eid staple not only on Eid e Milad but also on other Muslim festivals. Families gather over shared bowls of sevaiyan and cherish their sweet moments along with overflowing spoonfuls of this beloved Indian sweet dish.
However, that’s not it. Many families and Muslim religious establishments engage in charity work, donating food, clothing, and other supplies to those who need them. Charity and generosity are a big part of Islam’s teachings, which is why Muslims engage in charity work on Eid e Milad.
Is Eid e Milad A National Holiday?
No, Eid e Milad is not a national holiday. Instead, it is a gazetted holiday – a holiday officially recognized by the Central Government and subject to a ‘holiday’ status depending on each state. So, each state is free to declare (or not declare) it as a holiday.
In some states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu as well as the National Capital of Delhi, where there is a large Muslim population, schools, colleges, and government offices usually remain shut on Eid e Milad. However, in many other states, schools and governments may or may not be open, depending on that state’s decision.
Eid e Milad In Maharashtra: Holiday And Rescheduling In Mumbai
Eid e Milad was declared a holiday for Friday, September 5 in Maharashtra, including Mumbai. However, with the Anant Chaturdashi / Ganesh Visarjan ceremony taking place in full fervor in Mumbai on September 6, 2025, the Department of General Administration has decided to revise the date of the public holiday for Eid e Milad in Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban.
The holiday for Eid e Milad was originally scheduled for September 5, 2025 in Mumbai. Now, however, it will be rescheduled on September 8, 2025. The decision has been taken to make managing two large-scale events more streamlined and efficient.
Officials noted that having these two celebrations back-to-back would put immense pressure on civic services, traffic management, and police deployment.
Community leaders and representatives of several Muslim organizations voluntarily ageed to shift the Eid e Milad holiday on Monday, September 8, 2025. This would reduce the burden on public infrastructure in Mumbai.
However, note that this holiday rescheduling will only be valid for the Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban districts. The holiday for Eid e Milad in all other districts of Maharashtra will be on September 5, 2025.
Summing Up
Eid e Milad is a significant celebration in Islam that honors the birth and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. Muslims all over India and abroad come together, reunite with families, bond over meals, and engage in charity and goodwill on this day. If you’re observing this day in India, we’ve cleared out a common doubt: Is Eid e Milad A National Holiday? And also updated you about the holiday rescheduling in Mumbai.
