Delhi govt declares Nov 24th as dry day to honor Guru Teg Bahadur's martyrdom

The Delhi government has declared November 24 as a dry day, mandating the closure of all liquor shops across the city. This decision aligns with commemorating the significant role played by Guru Teg Bahadur in the development and establishment of Sikhism. The announcement, reported by news agency PTI, highlighted the shift in the earlier plan regarding dry days.

Originally, the Excise Department had scheduled Christmas, December 25, as a dry day. However, in a "corrigendum," authorities revised this, directing the closure of liquor shops on November 24 instead, to honor Guru Teg Bahadur's martyrdom.

This adjustment follows an initial order released on September 29, outlining six dry days from October to December, which initially included December 25, coinciding with Christmas celebrations across the nation.


Earlier instances of such directives include the recent declaration of November 19 as a 'dry day' to observe Chhath Puja, a four-day festival marked by devotees' fasting and rituals dedicated to the Sun. On these significant occasions, the Excise Department mandates the closure of all liquor shops to respect the spiritual observances of the populace.

Throughout this year, the government has maintained the closure of nearly 637 liquor stores operated by four government agencies on several occasions, including March 8 (Holi), October 2 (Gandhi Jayanti), October 24 (Dussehra), and November 12 (Diwali), aligning with various cultural and religious celebrations.

This decision to observe November 24 as a dry day reiterates the government's respect for cultural sentiments and marks another instance where commercial activities pause in deference to significant historical and religious events.

Quoting a government official, "The closure of liquor shops on November 24 is a mark of reverence to Guru Teg Bahadur's contributions, reflecting our commitment to honoring historical legacies."