The Maharashtra government has announced a holiday on Friday, December 6, to honor Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, a key figure in creating India’s Constitution. This day is known as Mahaparinirvan Diwas.
On Thursday, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde paid respect to Ambedkar by placing flowers at his statue in Thane. There will also be a special event at Prerna Sthal in the Parliament House, organized by the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation. The event will start in the morning with floral tributes from important leaders like Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and others.
Every year, many people travel to Mumbai to visit Chaityabhoomi in Dadar’s Shivaji Park, where Ambedkar was cremated. To support the large crowds, the Railways will run special trains.
Dr. Ambedkar, who passed away on December 6, 1956, was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest honor, after he died.
What’s Open and Closed on Mahaparinirvan Diwas?
– Government offices in Mumbai will be closed.
– Alcohol shops will also be closed because it’s a dry day.
– Public and private banks will be open since they don’t recognize December 6 as a holiday.
– Schools in Mumbai are closed due to a notice from the Education Department.
Special Trains
The Central Railway has announced 14 extra trains for Mahaparinirvan Diwas, coming from cities like Aurangabad and Nagpur to Mumbai on December 6. There will also be extra suburban trains running on December 5 and 6 to handle the crowd.
To keep everyone safe, about 300 extra Railway Police Force (RPF) members have been assigned to key stations like Dadar and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. They have also set up ‘May I Help You’ booths for passengers.
Traffic Rules in Mumbai
Many people will visit Chaityabhoomi in Shivaji Park, where Ambedkar was cremated. To manage the crowds, traffic police have enforced restrictions from December 5 to 7.
One important road, Veer Savarkar Road, will be closed from Siddhivinayak Temple to Hinduja Hospital. Local residents can access their homes by taking a left turn from Yes Bank Junction.