Public Holidays in India also known as Government Holidays colloquially, consist of a variety of cultural, nationalistic, and religious holidays that are legislated in India at the union or state levels.
Being a culturally diverse country, there are many festivals celebrated in various regions across the country. There are only three national holidays declared by Government of India : Republic Day (26 January), Independence Day (15 August), and Gandhi Jayanti (2 October). Apart from this, certain holidays which are celebrated nationally are declared centrally by the Union Government. Additionally, various state governments and union territories designate additional holidays on local festivals or days of importance as holidays as per section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 .
National holidays
National holidays are mandatory holidays declared by Government of India which is applicable for all states and union territories of India .
Central holidays
In addition to the three fixed national holidays, Union Government of India declares additional days as holidays which are largely followed by central government offices and affiliates. In addition to designated fixed holidays, few other days are designated optional from which select number of days can be chosen according to individual convenience.
Fixed
Central holidays:Fixed[ 5]
Name
Type
Details
April –May
Buddha Purnima
Floating
Buddhist festival that celebrates Gautama Buddha , founder of Buddhism (c. 563-483 BC). It is celebrated on the full moon day of the Vaisakha month of the Buddhist calendar.[ 6]
December 25
Christmas Day
Fixed
Christian festival that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ , central figure of Christianity (c. 6to4BC–30or33AD) whose birth is commemorated on December 25[ 7]
September –October
Dussehra (Vijayadashami)
Floating
Hindu festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil. It is celebrated on the tenth day of Ashvin , the seventh month in the Hindu Calendar [ 8]
October –November
Diwali
Floating
Hindu festival of lights. It is celebrated on the new moon day in the month of Ashvin or Kartika in the Hindu Calendar[ 9]
April
Good Friday
Floating
Christian festival that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus [ 10]
October –November
Guru Nanak's Birthday
Floating
Sikh festival that celebrates the birth of the first Sikh guru , (1469).[ 11]
March –April
Eid ul-Fitr
Floating
Muslim festival that celebrates of the day of breaking the fast. It is celebrated on the first day of Shawwal in the Islamic calendar .[ 12]
June
Eid-ul Adha
Floating
Muslim festival that honours the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son, either Isaac or Ismail , as an act of obedience to God .[ 13]
March –April
Mahavir Jayanti
Floating
Jain festival that celebrates the birth of Mahavira (599 BC), the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankara (supreme preacher) of present Avasarpiṇī [ 14]
July –August
Muharram
Floating
Muslims mourn the killing of Husayn Ibn Ali , prophet Muhammad's family. Also marks parting of the Red Sea by Moses , salvation of the Israelites , Noah 's disembarkment from the Ark .
September
Mawlid
Floating
Muslim festival that celebrates the birth of Muhammad. It is celebrated in Rabi' al-Awwal , the third month in the Islamic calendar.[ 15]
Optional
Central holidays:Optional[ 5]
Name
Type
Details
March –April
Holi
Floating
Hindu festival of colors to celebrate the victory of good over evil (Specifically the death of the evil Holika , aunt of Prahlad , an ardent devotee of Vishnu ) and arrival of spring , celebrated on full-moon day in the month of Phalguna in the Hindu calendar[ 16]
August –September
Krishna Janmastami
Floating
Hindu festival to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna and celebrated on eighth day of Krishna Paksha in the month of Shravana in the Hindu calendar
March –April
Ram Navami
Floating
Hindu festival to celebrate the birth of Lord Rama celebrated on the ninth day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Chaitra in the Hindu calendar
February –March
Maha Shivaratri
Floating
Hindu festival to celebrate the wedding of Lord Shiva with Parvati , celebrated on the fourteenth day of Krishna Paksha in the month of Phalguna or Magha in the Hindu calendar[ 17]
August –September
Ganesh Chaturthi
Floating
Hindu festival as a tribute to Lord Ganesha , celebrated on the fourth day of Krishna Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada in the Hindu calendar[ 18]
January
Makar Sankranti / Pongal
Floating
Hindu festival marking the transition of the sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn and dedicated to the solar deity Surya .[ 19]
June –July
Rath Yatra
Floating
Hindu festival involving a public procession of chariots with the deities Jagannath , Balarama and Subhadra celebrated in Ashadha month of Hindu calendar
August –September
Onam
Floating
Hindu harvest festival celebrated by the people of Kerala commemorating the visit of Mahabali and celebrated in Chingam, the first month of Malayalam Calendar
January –February
Basant Panchami
Floating
Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Saraswati , that marks the preparation for the arrival of spring and celebrated on the fifth day of Magha , the eleventh month of Hindu calendar
April
Vishu
Floating
Celebrates the beginning of the Malayali New Year[ 20]
April
Vaisakhi
Floating
Celebrates the beginning of the Solar new year in North India and spring harvest on the first day of the month of Vaisakh in the Hindu calendar
April
Bohag Bihu
Floating
Celebrates the beginning of the Assamese New Year
April
Ugadi
Floating
Celebrates the beginning of the Telugu and Kannada New Year
April
Cheti Chand
Floating
Celebrates the beginning of the Sindhi New Year
April
Gudi Padwa
Floating
Celebrates the beginning of the Marathi and Konkani New Year
March
Nauroz
Floating
Celebrates the beginning of the Persian New Year
October –November
Chhath
Floating
Hindu harvest festival dedicated to Sun God Surya, celebrated in North and East India on the sixth day of the month of Kartika
September –October
Navratri
Floating
Hindu festival celebrating the first day of the Hindu Vikram Samvat calendar
October –November
Karva Chauth
Floating
Hindu festival celebrated by women to pray for the longevity of their husbands, observed on the fourth day after the full moon in the month of Kartika
State holidays
In addition to the above, various state governments and union territories designate additional holidays on local festivals or days of importance as holidays as per section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 .[ 1]
Harvest festivals
State holidays:Harvest festivals [ 21]
Name
State/UT
January 13 –January 14
Bhogi
Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , Maharashtra , Tamil Nadu , Telangana , Kerala
March 6
Chapchar Kut
Mizoram
January 16 –January 17
Kanum Pongal
Tamil Nadu
October –November
Kati Bihu
Assam
January 13 –January 14
Lohri
Punjab
January 14 –January 15
Magh Bihu
Assam
January 14 –January 15
Maghi
Haryana , Himachal Pradesh , Jammu , Punjab
January 14 –January 15
Sankranti
Andhra Pradesh , Gujarat , Karnataka , Sikkim , Telangana , Arunachal Pradesh , Kerala , Uttarakhand , Punjab , West Bengal
August –September
Onam
Kerala
January 14 –January 15
Pongal
Puducherry , Tamil Nadu
August –September
Thiruvonam
Kerala
January 15 –January 16
Uzhavar Thirunal
Puducherry , Tamil Nadu
September –October
Wangala
Assam, Meghalaya , Nagaland
New year
State holidays:New year's days [ 21]
Name
State/UT
April 13 –April 14
Bohag Bihu
Assam
March –April
Gudi Padwa
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu , Maharashtra
August
Losoong
Sikkim
February –March
Losar
Ladakh
January 1
New Year's Day
Arunachal Pradesh , Meghalaya , Manipur , Mizoram , Nagaland , Puducherry , Rajasthan , Sikkim , Telangana
December 31
New Year's Eve
Manipur
April 13 –April 14
Pana Sankranti
Odisha
March 20 –March 21
Parsi New Year
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu , Gujarat , Maharashtra
April 14 –April 15
Pohela Boishakh
Tripura , West Bengal
April 13 –April 14
Puthaandu
Tamil Nadu , Puducherry
March –April
Sarhul
Jharkhand
March –April
Sajibu Nongma Panba
Manipur
March –April
Ugadi
Andhra Pradesh , Goa , Gujarat , Jharkhand , Karnataka , Rajasthan , Tamil Nadu , Telangana
April 13 –April 14
Vaisakhi
Jharkhand , Punjab
April 14 –April 15
Vishu
Kerala
November
Vikram Samvant New Year
Gujarat , Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
State days
Birth and anniversary days
State holidays:Birth and anniversary days[ 21]
Name
State/UT
April 14
Ambedkar Jayanti
Andhra Pradesh , Arunachal Pradesh , Bihar , Chhattisgarh , Goa , Gujarat , Haryana , Himachal Pradesh , Jammu and Kashmir , Jharkhand , Karnataka , Kerala , Madhya Pradesh , Odisha , Punjab , Rajasthan , Sikkim , Tamil Nadu , Telangana , Uttarakhand , Uttar Pradesh , West Bengal
April 5
Babu Jag Jivan Ram's Birthday
Bihar
April 23
Basava Jayanti
Karnataka
July 13
Bhanu Jayanti
Sikkim
February 19
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti
Maharashtra
December 18
Guru Ghasidas Jayanti
Chandigarh
February
Guru Ravidass Jayanti
Chandigarh , Haryana , Himachal Pradesh , Punjab
September 23
Heroes' Martyrdom Day
Haryana
September 26
Janmotsav
Assam
June 4
Kabir Jayanti
Chandigarh , Himachal Pradesh , Haryana , Punjab
November 15
Kanakadasa Jayanthi
Karnataka
May 25
Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti
Tripura
October 15
Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti
Haryana
September 23
Maharaja Hari Singh Ji's Birthday
Jammu and Kashmir
May 9
Maharana Pratap Jayanti
Rajasthan
July 13
Martyrs' Day
Jharkhand
January 23
Netaji's Birthday
Odisha , Tripura , West Bengal
December 12
Pa Togan Sangma
Meghalaya
May 7
Rabindranath Tagore's Birthday
West Bengal
September 26
Ramdev Jayanti
Rajasthan
March 23
Shaheedi Diwas
Punjab
October 31
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Birthday
Gujarat
December 26
Shaheed Udham Singh Jayanti
Haryana
July 31
Shaheed Udham Singh Martyrdom day
Haryana
August 20
Sree Narayana Guru Jayanthi
Kerala
September 20
Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi
Kerala
January 12
Swami Vivekananda's Birthday
West Bengal
January 15 –January 16
Thiruvalluvar Day
Tamil Nadu
December 18
U Soso Tham Death Anniversary
Meghalaya
December 30
U Kiang Nangbah
Meghalaya
July 17
U Tirot Sing Day
Meghalaya
Religious days
State holidays:Religious days[ 21]
Name
Type
State/UT
June –July
Akshaya Tritiya
Hindu
Maharashtra , Karnataka , Tamil Nadu , Andhra Pradesh , Kerala , Uttar Pradesh , Gujarat , Rajasthan , Punjab
October –November
Ayudha Puja
Hindu
Tamil Nadu , Karnataka , Kerala , Andhra Pradesh , Telangana , Lakshadweep
September –October
Bathukamma
Hindu
Telangana
November
Bhai Dooj
Hindu
Gujarat , Rajasthan , Uttarakhand , Uttar Pradesh
June
Bonalu
Hindu
Telangana
October –November
Chhath
Hindu
Bihar , Jharkhand , Uttar Pradesh
March
Dol Jatra
Hindu
West Bengal
October
Durga Puja
Hindu
West Bengal
August –September
Ganesh Chaturthi
Hindu
Andhra Pradesh , Daman and Diu , Dadra and Nagar Haveli , Goa , Gujarat , Karnataka , Maharashtra , Odisha , Puducherry , Telangana , Tamil Nadu
October –November
Ghatasthapana
Hindu
Rajasthan
April
Garia Puja
Hindu
Tripura
November
Govardhan Puja
Hindu
Haryana
April
Hanuman Jayanti
Hindu
Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , Kerala , Maharashtra , Tamil Nadu , Uttar Pradesh
August –September
Hartalika Teej
Hindu
Chandigarh , Sikkim
September –October
Haryali Teej
Hindu
Haryana
March –April
Holi
Hindu
Pan India except Delhi , Karnataka , Kerala , Lakshadweep , Manipur , Puducherry , Tamil Nadu , West Bengal
March
Holika Dahan
Hindu
Rajasthan
August –September
Jhulan Purnima
Hindu
Odisha
November
Kali Puja
Hindu
West Bengal
November
Kartika Purnima
Hindu
Odisha , Tamil Nadu
July
Ker Puja
Hindu
Tripura
June
Kharchi Puja
Hindu
Tripura
August –September
Krishna Janmashtami
Hindu
Andaman and Nicobar , Andhra Pradesh , Bihar , Chandigarh , Chhattisgarh , Delhi , Gujarat , Haryana , Himachal Pradesh , Jammu and Kashmir , Jharkhand , Madhya Pradesh , Meghalaya , Nagaland , Odisha , Punjab , Rajasthan , Sikkim , Tamil Nadu , Telangana , Tripura , Uttarakhand , Uttar Pradesh
October
Lakshmi Puja
Hindu
Odisha , Tripura , West Bengal
October –November
Maha Astami
Hindu
Arunachal Pradesh , Bihar , Jharkhand , Rajasthan , Telangana , West Bengal
March –April
Maha Navami
Hindu
Andhra Pradesh , Telangana
October –November
Maha Saptami
Hindu
Odisha , Sikkim , Tripura , West Bengal
February –March
Maha Shivaratri
Hindu
Pan India except Andaman and Nicobar Islands , Arunachal Pradesh , Assam , Bihar , Goa , Lakshadweep , Madhya Pradesh , Manipur , Meghalaya , Mizoram , Nagaland , Puducherry , Sikkim , Tamil Nadu , West Bengal
October
Mahalaya
Hindu
Karnataka , Odisha , Tripura , West Bengal
October
Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti
Hindu
Chandigarh , Haryana , Karnataka , Madhya Pradesh , Punjab
April
Nag Panchami
Hindu
Maharashtra
April –May
Maharshi Parasuram Jayanti
Hindu
Gujarat , Himachal Pradesh , Haryana , Madhya Pradesh , Rajasthan
June
Raja Parba
Hindu
Odisha
August
Raksha Bandhan
Hindu
Chandigarh , Gujarat , Haryana , Madhya Pradesh , Rajasthan , Uttarakhand , Uttar Pradesh
March –April
Ram Navami
Hindu
Andaman and Nicobar Islands , Andhra Pradesh , Bihar , Chandigarh , Daman and Diu , Gujarat , Himachal Pradesh , Haryana , Karnataka , Maharashtra , Madhya Pradesh , Odisha , Punjab , Rajasthan , Sikkim , Tamil Nadu , Telangana , Uttarakhand , Uttar Pradesh
November
Rahasa Purnima
Hindu
Odisha
June –July
Rath Jatra
Hindu
Odisha
February
Ratha Saptami
Hindu
Andhra Pradesh , Goa , Karnataka , Maharashtra
September –October
Teja Dashmi
Hindu
Rajasthan
January –February
Thaipusam
Hindu
Tamil Nadu
January –February
Vasant Panchami
Hindu
Haryana , Odisha , Punjab , Tripura , West Bengal
September
Vishwakarma day
Hindu
Assam , Bihar , Karnataka , Uttar Pradesh , West Bengal
February
Dosmoche
Buddhist
Ladakh
July
Drupka Teshi
Buddhist
Ladakh
November
Lhabab Duchen
Buddhist
Sikkim
December
Pang-Lhabsol
Buddhist
Sikkim
August
Chehlum
Muslim
Bihar , Uttar Pradesh
April
Jumat-ul-Vida
Muslim
Jammu and Kashmir
January 28
Mohm Hajarat Ali
Muslim
Bihar
April
Shab-I-Qadr
Muslim
Jammu and Kashmir
December
Feast of St. Francis Xavier
Christian
Goa
April
Easter
Christian
Kerala
January 11
Missionary Day
Christian
Meghalaya
January 5
Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti
Sikh
Chandigarh , Haryana
June 19
Guru Hargobind Ji's birthday
Sikh
Jharkhand
August 28
Parkash Utsav Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji
Sikh
Punjab
June 3
Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji's Martyrdom Day
Sikh
Punjab
November 28
Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji's Martyrdom Day
Sikh
Punjab
August
Samvatsari
Jain
Gujarat
July
Behdienkhlam
Indigenous
Meghalaya
November
Chapchar Kut
Indigenous
Mizoram
December
Indigenous Faith Day
Indigenous
Arunachal Pradesh , Assam
January
Gaan-Ngai
Indigenous
Assam , Manipur , Nagaland
January
Imoinu Iratpa
Indigenous
Manipur
October
Indrajatra
Indigenous
Sikkim
February
Lui Ngai Ni
Indigenous
Manipur
January
Me-Dam-Me-Phi
Indigenous
Assam
November
Ningol Chakouba
Indigenous
Manipur
September
Nuakhai
Indigenous
Odisha
August
Tendong Lho Rumfaat
Indigenous
Sikkim
March
Yaosang
Indigenous
Manipur
Others
State holidays:Others[ 21]
Name
State/UT
May 1
May Day
Assam , Bihar , Goa , Karnataka , Kerala , Manipur , Puducherry , Telangana , Tamil Nadu , Tripura , West Bengal
July 6
MHIP day
Mizoram
August 13
Patriot's day
Manipur
April 24
Panchaytiraj Diwas
Odisha
June 30
Remna Ni
Mizoram
November 23
Seng Kut Snem
Mizoram
June 15
YMA Day
Mizoram
Others
Banks have specific holidays according to the various states or union territories in addition to every second and fourth Saturdays of the month.[ 22] Schools, colleges and other educational institutions have specific term holidays according to the state or board.
References
^ a b "Bank holidays in India" . Forbes . 29 May 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023 .
^ Introduction to Constitution of India (Report). Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India . 29 July 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2008 .
^ "Independence Day of India, 15 August 2020: History, Significance, Facts and Celebration" . Times of India . 15 August 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2023 .
^ "Gandhi Jayanti 2023: Date, history, significance and all you need to know about Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary" . Hindustan Times . 2 October 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2023 .
^ a b 2023 Holiday list (PDF) (Report). Government of India . Retrieved 1 November 2023 .
^ "Buddha Purnima 2023: Date, Timings, Story, Teachings and Significance" . Times of India . 5 May 2023. ISSN 0971-8257 . Retrieved 31 July 2023 .
^ "The Global Religious Landscape" . Pew Research Center. 18 December 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2014 .
^ "Navratri" . Britannica. Retrieved 1 May 2023 .
^ "Diwali" . Britannica. Retrieved 1 May 2023 .
^ The Chambers Dictionary . Allied Publishers. 2002. p. 639. ISBN 978-81-86062-25-8 . Retrieved 13 April 2012 .
^ "Guru Nanak Jayanti 2019: History, significance and traditions" . Hindustan Times . 11 November 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2020 .
^ Elias, Jamal J. (1999). Islam . Routledge. p. 75. ISBN 978-0-4152-1165-9 .
^ "Id al-Adha" . Oxford Islamic Studies Online. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2020 .
^ (India), Gujarat (1975). Gazetteers: Junagadh . p. 13.
^ Schussman, Aviva (1998). "The Legitimacy and Nature of Mawid al-Nabī: (analysis of a Fatwā)". Islamic Law and Society . 5 (2): 214–234. doi :10.1163/1568519982599535 .
^ "Holi" . Britannica. Retrieved 1 November 2023 .
^ "Maha-shivaratri" . Britannica. Retrieved 1 November 2023 .
^ "Ganesh Chaturthi" . Britannica. Retrieved 1 November 2023 .
^ "Pongal" . Britannica. Retrieved 1 November 2023 .
^ "Vishu" . Britannica. Retrieved 1 November 2023 .
^ a b c d e f "Bank holiday list" . HDFC Bank . Retrieved 1 November 2023 .
^ "Saturday bank holidays" . RBI. Retrieved 1 November 2023 .