Because of severe drought in the state, maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Wednesday said his party will not hold Dipotsav, its annual Diwali celebration at Shivaji Park in Mumbai, this year.
The Maharashtra government has declared 85 per cent of the state drought-hit following deficient rains this year and announced an interim aid of ₹ 5,000 to farmers before Diwali. It would not be prudent to celebrate festivals extravagantly when rural Maharashtra is reeling from a severe drought, farmers are under severe financial pressure, and thousands are migrating to cities due to it, he said.
In 2023, then chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis , who is now chief minister, attended the celebrations. In 2024, legendary scriptwriters Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar inaugurated the Dipotsav. The event is inaugurated by prominent public figures.
Thackeray said the Dipotsav will be organised next year if the situation, hopefully, improves.
