Maharashtra Dry Days In February: Alcohol Sales Banned For 5 Days - Full List Here

If you're living in Maharashtra, your February social calendar might need a little restructuring. Between cultural festivals and a massive electoral push across the state's rural belts, the "dry day" count is higher than usual this month.

Whether you are in a bustling metro or a quiet district, here is everything you need to know to stay ahead of the alcohol bans.

The Statewide Bans: 3 Key Dates

The Maharashtra state government has mandated a total ban on the sale of liquor across the entire state on three specific occasions in February. Mark these dates to avoid a last-minute dash to closed shutters:

Sunday, February 15: Mahashivratri

Thursday, February 19: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti (State holiday)

Monday, February 23: Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti

The Election Impact: 12 Districts, 2 Extra Dry Days

While the dates above apply to everyone, residents in 12 specific districts will face an additional two days of restrictions due to local governance elections.

The State Election Commission (SEC) rescheduled the polls for 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis. Originally slated for earlier in the month, the dates were shifted following the tragic plane crash of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and the subsequent state mourning period.

The new "Dry Day" schedule for these regions is:

Friday, February 7: Polling Day (Total ban on liquor sales)

Sunday, February 9: Counting Day (Total ban on liquor sales)

Affected Districts include: Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, Solapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Dharashiv, Latur, and Parbhani.

However, the election commission is yet to formally announce the ban on the sale of liquour in the above districts.

Democracy in Action: The Numbers

This isn't just a small local affair; it is a massive democratic exercise. Around 2.09 crore voters-including over 1 crore women-are eligible to head to the polls. Here's a quick look at the scale of the February 7 elections:

Each voter will cast two votes: one for their Zilla Parishad representative and one for the Panchayat Samiti. The SEC has emphasized that the Model Code of Conduct remains in strict force until the final results are declared on February 9.

Note: During these dry days, all wine shops, bars, and permit rooms will remain closed. Consumption in public places is also strictly prohibited and can lead to legal action.