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 are mandatory holidays declared by Government of India which is applicable for all states and union territories of India .
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.
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] April 14 Ambedkar Jayanti Fixed Honors B. R. Ambedkar (1891-1956), the father of Indian Constitution, who was born on April 14, 1891[ 7] 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[ 8] 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 [ 9] Sikh festival called Dasehra. Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji instructed Sikhs to use this time as 9 nights of reciting Bir Ras - Judh Mai Bani (Bani infused with warrior spirit). By changing this festival to one focusing on ‘Shastar’ (weapon) and ‘Shaastar’ (scripture), Guru Sahib instilled ‘Chardi Kala’ and ‘Bir Ras’ (warrior spirit) into his Sikhs. Turning his Sikhs away from watching plays depicting demons such as Ravan, Meghnaad, Kumbhkaran getting defeated, Guru Sahib instead uttered all these feats inspiring warrior spirit in his Bani ‘Raam Avtar’, and instructed Sikhs to recite it during the period of Dasehra. 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[ 10] Sikh festival to celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas in remembrance of the release of Guru Hargobind from the Gwalior Fort prison by the Mughal emperor Jahangir and the day he arrived at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. April Good Friday Floating Christian festival that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus [ 11] October –November Guru Nanak's Birthday Floating Sikh festival that celebrates the birth of the first Sikh guru , (1469).[ 12] 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 .[ 13] 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 .[ 14] 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 [ 15] 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.[ 16]
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[ 17] Sikh festival to celebrate with its historic texts referring to it as Hola. Guru Gobind Singh in addition to Holi created a three-day Hola Mohalla extension festival of martial arts. The extension started the day after the Holi festival in Anandpur Sahib, where Sikh soldiers would train in battles, compete in horsemanship, athletics, archery and military exercises. 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[ 18] 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[ 19] January Makar Sankranti / Pongal Floating Hindu festival marking the transition of the sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn and dedicated to the solar deity Surya .[ 20] 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[ 21] April Vaisakhi Floating Sikh festival 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 Punjabi 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
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]
State holidays:Harvest festivals [ 22] 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
State holidays:New year's days [ 22] 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
Birth and anniversary days [ edit ] State holidays:Birth and anniversary days[ 22] 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
State holidays:Religious days[ 22] 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
State holidays:Others[ 22] 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
Banks have specific holidays according to the various states or union territories in addition to every second and fourth Saturdays of the month.[ 23]
^ 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 . Retrieved 1 November 2023 .^ "Gandhi Jayanti 2023: Date, history, significance and all you need to know about Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary" . Hindustan Times . 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 ISSN 0971-8257 . Retrieved 31 July 2023 .^ https://igecorner.com/dopt-order-declaration-of-holiday-on-14th-april-2024-for-birthday-of-dr-b-r-ambedkar/ ^ "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 ISBN 978-81-86062-25-8 . Retrieved 13 April 2012 .^ "Guru Nanak Jayanti 2019: History, significance and traditions" . Hindustan Times . 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 ^ 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 .
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