The Election Commission of India (ECI) has revised the polling day for the Haryana Assembly elections from October 1 to October 5. Additionally, the counting of votes for both Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana Assemblies has been moved from October 4 to October 8.
This change honours the voting rights and traditions of the Bishnoi community, which celebrates the Asoj Amavasya festival in memory of their Guru Jambheshwar. The ECI received a request from the National President of the All India Bishnoi Mahasabha, based in Bikaner, Rajasthan, to adjust the polling date. The festival, occurring on October 2 this year, is a time when many Bishnoi families travel to their native village Mukam in Rajasthan.
Thousands of Bishnoi families from Sirsa, Fatehabad, and Hisar were expected to travel to Rajasthan on the original polling day, thereby missing their chance to vote.
The ECI has previously adjusted election dates to accommodate various community practices. In 2022, the Punjab Assembly elections were postponed to allow devotees to travel to Varanasi for Guru Ravidas Jayanti. Similarly, the Manipur Assembly elections were rescheduled to respect Sunday prayers of the Christian community, and the Rajasthan Assembly elections in 2023 were moved to avoid conflict with Devuthani Ekadashi, a significant day for mass weddings.
The ECI noted that the revised polling date also addresses concerns about a six-day holiday by allowing for a one-day leave on September 30, 2024.