Muharram 2025: Final date, school closures, traffic advisory, and what stays open, closed on Ashura
Every year, the Islamic calendar starts not with a date on paper but with eyes on the sky. This year was no different. The crescent moon was spotted in India on 26 June. That set Muharram's first day on 27 June, anchoring Ashura, the day of deepest mourning on 6 July.
So, that buzz about Ashura possibly being on 7 July? It's settled. As Islamic Relief reminds us, 'Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar, and thus marks the start of the Islamic New Year.' And with the moon's appearance, the timetable is clear.
Let's break it down. Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram, hits the peak of the mourning period for Shia Muslims. This isn't just about ritual it's about remembering one of Islam's most searing moments. As Islami City puts it, Imam Hussain 'established the principle that sometimes the goals of life become more important than life itself.'In India, the scene is vivid. Families craft Tazias — stunning replicas of Imam Hussain's tomb — using bamboo, paper and bright cloth. These structures glow at night, lit by strings of coloured bulbs. On Ashura, they're carried through streets in processions and finally laid to rest in cemeteries. It's art, faith and grief woven together.Sunday, 6 July, is when it all happens. That means:
Liquor shops shut for the dry day in many states.
Some public transport routes close for processions.
Banks and the stock market? Shut anyway — it's Sunday.
Schools and government offices? Same story. But here's the thing — talk of an extra day off on Monday, 7 July, fizzled out with the moon sighting. WBPAY noted that if Ashura fell on a Monday, West Bengal government employees would get the day off. Now that it doesn't, it's business as usual on the 7th — no bank holiday, no stock market pause.
Muharram isn't just the start of a new Islamic year. It's one of four sacred months when warfare is forbidden, as the Quran says. For Shia Muslims, it's when they re-enact the stand at Karbala — Hussain's defiance of Yazid's rule. The message? Justice can outweigh survival.
Sunnis, meanwhile, honour Ashura differently. Many fast to mark Moses' exodus from Egypt. Some celebrate weddings. And as Islami City explains, they 'avoid any explicit connection of that day to the martyrdom of Imam Hussain.'Most Indian schools reopen in early July. In the north — think Uttar Pradesh — classes are already back. The CBSE school calendar tentatively listed Muharram on 6 July, but with the moon's confirmation, that's now final.
So, don't expect Monday off for Muharram. But monsoon season always brings its share of sudden school closures. Many schools keep a rainy-day buffer from 10 to 15 July anyway. So parents, keep your eyes on that WhatsApp group.
A sacred month, a timeless story of sacrifice, and a short-lived confusion about a Monday holiday — that's Muharram 2025 in India. Sunday, 6 July is the day to watch. If you're travelling, expect diversions. If you're in the markets, remember: banks and stock exchanges are shut, but only because it's a Sunday. In the end, the moon calls the shots — just as it has for centuries.
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