Raj Thackeray urged people to celebrate Diwali mindfully as 85 per cent of the state is declared drought-hit.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray announced on Wednesday that the party will not hold its annual Dipotsav celebration at Shivaji Park in Mumbai this year. According to reports from Urban Acres, Hindustan Times and Economic Times, the decision was made due to the severe drought affecting large parts of Maharashtra.
In a video message, Thackeray said it would not be prudent to have extravagant celebrations while rural Maharashtra faces drought, financial pressure on farmers, and migration to cities. He appealed to people across the state to be mindful during their Diwali celebrations.
The Maharashtra government has declared 85 per cent of the state as drought-hit following a lack of rainfall this year. The state has also announced interim assistance of Rs 5,000 for farmers before the festival.
The Dipotsav is a large-scale public event that typically features light decorations and a synchronised firecracker display at Shivaji Park. Previous years have seen inaugurations by figures such as screenwriters Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, as well as political leaders including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde.
Thackeray stated that the event will be organised next year if the situation improves.
