‘Why Does the Govt Wants to Cancel Good Friday Holiday’- ask Catholic Sabha Members

‘Why Does the Govt Wants to Cancel Good Friday Holiday’- ask Catholic Sabha Members

Mangaluru : Seems like Karnataka State is trying to be like a State in USA, where in America there is NO HOLIDAY for Good Friday, in spite of being a large Christian Country. And how I know that, is because I took Personal Day Off every Good Friday, during my 23 years stay in USA. But I am not saying that we should follow the Americans, because while there are a bunch of Hindu Holidays , and ONLY two Christian Holidays, one for Christmas and the other for Good Friday- and now the Govt trying to delete Good Friday Holiday doesn’t make any sense-only shows their discrimination and hate towards the Christian Community. Bah humbug!

Regarding Good Friday, it is a Christian Holiday, honoring the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his demise at Calvary. It is perceived during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday. Good Friday is also called Great Friday, Holy Friday, Easter Friday and Black Friday. The date of Good Friday fluctuates from one year to another. It is a largely instituted legal holiday across the globe and is the day after Maundy Thursday. How Is Good Friday Celebrated? On the Friday prior to Easter Sunday, many people around the globe celebrate the anniversary of crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. This a compliance, which involves people praying and fasting. Several church services are organized in the afternoon, normally around noon or midnight to 03:00 p.m., in order to remember the hours when Jesus hung on the cross. The day is observed by reenacting the procession of the cross in many churches.

The Faithful cover statues, crosses and pictures with black clothes, and prayers are offered at churches. Every Christian takes part in the Holy Communion. People sing hymns and prayers. Good Friday is celebrated in memory of Jesus Christ’s death, passion and crucifixion. The most important symbol of Good Friday is the crucifix, which represents the way in which Jesus Christ died. A few crosses bear a figure of Jesus Christ. Other symbols of Good Friday comprise of black cloth utlized to cover crosses, paintings and statues in churches. Besides, a few people create a plain appearance in churches and houses by removing all flowers. So when Good Friday is such a Holy Day where Christians have to take part in the Church, canceling the Good Friday Holiday thereby making Christians to work on that is absolutely a wrong decision taken by the govt, which will hurt the sentiments of the Christian Community.

Recently, even the Bombay High Court in an order asked ‘Good Friday’ to be declared as a public holiday in the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu. The order was passed by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice N.M. Jamdar. The bench was hearing a PIL that was filed by a person named Anthony Francisco Duarte. The PIL was filed because this was the first instance that Good Friday was not declared as a public holiday. The petitioner in his PIL had stated that excluding the day from the list of compulsory holidays was discriminatory. It needs to be mentioned that Good Friday is considered as the second most sacred day after Christmas by the Christian community.

Following close on its heels after a bevy of Catholic leaders including Former MLA J R Lobo, Susheel Noronha- Executive Committee member of Catholic Council of Karnataka; Harry D’souza- President of Karnataka Christian Social Welfare Association; Rolphy D’Costa and Anil Lobo- President, and Immediate Past President respectively of Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh; Roy Castelino- Past President of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy; among others who met at the Mini Hall of Bishop’s House, Mangaluru to discuss about the same issue of Govt cancelling Good Friday Holiday, the members of Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh held a press meet today at Mangaluru Press Club, urging the govt not to delete Good Friday from the Holiday List.

Addressing the media persons, Rolphy D’costa- the President of Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh said, ” We are hurt by the Karnataka Govt’s proposal to delete “Good Friday” from the statutory list of the General Holidays, and we are shocked by this move. This move by the Govt will affect and hurt the religious sentiments of the vast Christian community across the State, including DK and Mangaluru, which is called the “Rome of the East”. If you look at the holidays in India, and for that matter, Karnataka-we have only two Christian Holidays- Christmas and Good Friday. And now they want to cancel Good Friday, is something very ridiculous, and we the members of Catholic Sabha will strongly pressurize the Govt to take back their decision and retain the Good Friday Holiday”.

“In this respect we have already approached DC Sasikanth Senthil, District Minister In-Charge U T Khader, Former MLA J R Lobo, MLC Ivan D’souza and few other top leaders with our demands and memorandum on this issue, and have urged them to discuss the issue with chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and deputy chief minister Dr G Parameshwara, and take a positive decision. The list of govt holidays as recommended by the 6th Pay Commission has been unilaterally decided and taken into account only the convenience of govt employees. The recommendation does not take into consideration, needs of employees of quasi-govt, private companies and general public.The move to axe Good Friday Holiday will only obstruct members of the Christian community from observing the same. Meanwhile, let us pray for our Country and State Leaders whom God has chosen them to govern us” added D’Costa.

Victor Correa, the In-Coming President, Harry Rego- Vice President, Naveen Braggs- Hon secretary and Joint secretary Ajay Pais of Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh were also present on the dais during the press meet.

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