Public holidays in India

India, being a culturally diverse and fervent society, celebrates various holidays and festivals. There are many national holidays in India: Republic Day on 26 January, International Workers' Day on 1 May, Independence Day on 15 August and Mahatma Gandhi's birthday on 2 October.[1][2]

States have local festivals depending on prevalent religious and linguistic demographics. Popular Jain festivals include Mahavir Jayanti, Paryushan and Diwali; Sikh festivals like Guru Nanak Jayanti and Vaisakhi; Hindu festivals of Makar Sankranti, Maha Shivratri, Onam, Janmashtami, Saraswati Puja, Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, Raksha Bandhan, Holi, Durga Puja, Dussehra; Muslim festivals of Eid ul-Fitr, Eid ul-Adha, Mawlid, Muharram; Buddhist festivals like Ambedkar Jayanti, Buddha Jayanti, Dhammachakra Pravartan Day and Losar; and Christian festivals of Christmas and days of observances such as Good Friday are observed throughout India.

National holidays

Soldiers of the Madras Regiment during the annual Republic Day Parade in 2004

National holidays are observed in all states and union territories.

India has three national days.

They are:

DateEnglish nameCommemorates
26 JanuaryRepublic DayAdoption of the Constitution of India[3] (1950)
15 AugustIndependence DayIndependence from the British Empire (1947)
2 October Gandhi Jayanti Birthday of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Religious holidays

Hindu holidays

People celebrating Holi in Delhi.

Hindus celebrate a number of festivals all through the year. Hindu festivals have one or more of religious, mythological and seasonal significance. The observance of the festival, the symbolisms used and attached, and the style and intensity of celebration varies from region to region within the country. A list of the more popular festivals is given below.

For dates see:

HolidayObserved in
Bhogi/LohriAndhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra (as Bhogi), Punjab (as Lohri)
Makar Sankranti/Maghi/Magh Bihu/PongalAndaman & Nicobar, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam (as Magh Bihu), Gujarat (as Uttarayan), Karnataka, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, West Bengal (as Makar Sankranti), Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh (as Maghi), Rajasthan (as Makar Sankranti), Pongal / Tamilar Thirunaal (Tamilnadu)
VishuKerala, Tamil Nadu
Vasant Panchami (Aka, Saraswati Puja)Odisha, Tripura, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra
Ratha SaptamiMaharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka
Maha ShivaratriAndhra Pradesh, Assam, Chandigarh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal
Holi (Aka, Dol)all states and territories except Kerala, Nagaland, Mizoram, Goa, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu and bangalore.
Gudi Padwa/Ugadi/PuthanduMaharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu
Ram NavamiMaharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
Hanuman JayantiMaharashtra, Odisha, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh (as Bada Mangal), Andhra pradesh and Telangana.
Akshaya Tritiya/Maharishi Parashurama JayantiMaharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh
Rath JatraOdisha, Gujarat
Nag Panchami or Guga-Navamiall states and territories except Goa
Raksha Bandhan (Aka, Rákhi Púrńimá)Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Haryana, Odisha, Punjab, Maharashtra, Telangana.
Krishna JanmashtamiAndhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, West Bengal
Ganesh ChaturthiAndhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Odisha, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh
Onam/ThiruvonamKerala, Pondicherry
Raja ParbaOdisha
MahalayaKarnataka, West Bengal, Assam, Odisha
Dussehra/Durga Pujaall states
holiday for 2 days in Andhra Pradesh, mainly in Telangana (after Bathukamma), Bihar, Kerala, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh
holiday for 3 days in Odisha, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, and Tripura
holiday for 6 days in West Bengal
11th day Bhashani Utchhav in Odisha
Kumara Purnima (a.k.a. Kojaagari Pornima)Maharashtra (as Kojaagari Pornima), Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal.
Diwali (Aka, Káli Puja, Deepavali and Diipávali)all states and territories except Kerala
observed for 2 days in Assam, West Bengal, Karnataka, Odisha,
observed for 5 days in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh and delhi
observed for 6 days in Maharashtra
Vasu Baras (a.k.a. Govatsa Dwadashi)Maharashtra
Dhan Teras (a.k.a. Dhan Trayodashi)Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar
Naraka Chaturdashiall states except Tamil Nadu
Lakshmi PujaUttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, West Bengal and Tripura
Goverdhan Poojaall states except Tamil Nadu
Bhai Duj (Aka, Bhau-beej, Yama Dwitiya, Bhai Phota)Maharashtra, Goa, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar.
Devotthan EkadashiUttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and some parts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh
Hartalika TeejMaharashtra, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh
Jagaddhatri PujaWest Bengal
Vishwakarma PujaOdisha, Bihar, West Bengal.
NuakhaiOdisha
Chhath PujaBihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh
BathukammaTelangana
BonaluTelangana

Islamic holidays

Mawlid or Eid-e-Milād-un-Nabī being celebrated in a town in Uttar Pradesh.
HolidayObserved in
Day of Ashura
10th Muharram. Death of Imam Hussain ibn Ali 		All States & Territories.
Mawlid
Prophet Mohammad's Birthday 		All States & Territories.
Birthday of Ali ibn Abi Talib
Terah Rajab
Hazrat Ali		Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
Shab-e-Barat
Mid-Sha'ban		Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
Jumat-ul-Wida
Alvida
Last Friday in Ramadan		Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh
Eid ul-Fitr
Eid/Ramazan Id
End of Ramadan		all states and territories
Eid e Ghadeer
Eid/Eid e Ghadeer
18th of Dhu al-Hijjah 		Telangana[4]
Eid al-Adha
Bakr-Id
Feast of the Sacrifice		all states and territories

Sikh holidays

A number of Sikh holidays are Gurpurbs, anniversaries of a guru's birth or death; marked by the holding of a festival.

HolidayObserved in
Guru Gobind Singh Ji GurpurabChandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab,Haryana
Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev JiPunjab
VaisakhiAndaman & Nicobar, Assam, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
Guru Nanak GurpurabAndaman & Nicobar, Assam, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu

Christian holidays

Shops selling Christmas decorations in Kolkata.
DateHolidayObserved on
1 January (2018)

An Act of Thanksgiving, for the Blessings of the Past Year Prayer for a Blessing on the New Year

 New Year Day All States and territories
25 March (2018)

Holy Day of Obligation

 Palm Sunday All States and territories
29 March (2018)Maundy ThursdayMeghalaya, Mizoram and Goa
30 March (2018)Good FridayAll states and territories
1 April (2018)Easter SundayAll states and territories
20 May (2018) Feast of Pentecost All states and territories
3 July (2018)Feast of St. Thomas the ApostleKerala
5 September (2018)

A "mother to the poor"

 Fest of St. Theresa of Calcutta West Bengal
8 September (2018)Feast of the Blessed VirginGoa and Parts of Karnataka
1 November (2018)

Dedicated to All Saints

 All Saints Day Karnataka
2 November (2018)

Dedicated to those who have died and not yet reached heaven

 All Souls Day Mizoram
3 December (2018)Feast of St. Francis XavierGoa
25 December (2018)Christmas DayAll states and territories
26 December (2018)Boxing DayTelangana[5]
30 December (2018) Feast of Holy Family Meghalaya

Buddhist holidays

HolidayObserved in
Buddha PurnimaAndaman & Nicobar, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu
Dhammachakra Pravartan DayMaharashtra
LosarSikkim, Ladakh

Jain holidays

HolidayObserved in
Mahavir JayantiAndaman & Nicobar, Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh,
ParyushanAndaman & Nicobar, Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh,

Parsee (Zoroastrian) holidays

Note: The Parsis in India use a Shahenshahi calendar, unlike the Iranians who use a Kadmi calendar. The North American and European Parsis have adapted their own version of the Fasli calendar. This is however looked down upon by many of the Parsis in North America, who continue to use the Shahenshai calendar. These differences cause changes in the dates of the holidays. For example, the Zoroastrian New Year falls in the spring for the Iranians but in the summer for the Parsis.

HolidayObserved in
Nowruz
(Parsee New Year)		Gujarat, Maharashtra, Pondicherry, Punjab

Ravidassia holidays

HolidayObserved in
Guru Ravidass JayantiChandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh.

Ayyavazhi holidays

The Masi Procession to Swamithope Pathi during Ayya Vaikunda Avatar
HolidayObserved in
Ayya Vaikunda AvataramTamil Nadu[6]

Secular holidays

In addition to the official holidays, many religious, ethnic, and other traditional holidays populate the calendar, as well as observances proclaimed by officials and lighter celebrations. These are rarely observed by Central government and businesses

Date Holiday Observed in
1 JanuaryNew Year's DayMost of India
13 - 17 JanuaryPongalPondicherry, Tamil Nadu
14 JanuaryUttarayanGujarat
23 JanuaryNetaji Subhas Chandra Bose's JayantiOdisha, Tripura, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam
19 FebruaryChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj JayantiMaharashtra
20 FebruaryArunachal Pradesh Statehood Day
1st Day of Chithirai, March–AprilVishu / Varusha Pirappu or Puthandu
(Malayali & Tamil New Year)		Kerala, Tamil Nadu
2nd Day of Chaitra, March–AprilCheti Chand
(Sindhi New Year)		Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh
15 MarchKanshi Ram's JayantiUttar Pradesh
22 MarchBihar DayBihar
30 MarchRajasthan DayRajasthan
1 AprilUtkala Dibasa
(Odisha day)		Odisha
14 AprilDr. B. R. Ambedkar's JayantiAndhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
14/15 AprilPuthandu
(Tamil New Year)		Tamil Nadu
14/15 AprilPohela Boishakh
(Bengali New Year)		Tripura, West Bengal
15 AprilBihu
(Assamese New Year)		Assam
15 AprilMaha Vishuva Sankranti / Pana Sankranti
(Odia New Year)		Odisha
1 MayLabour Day (not a Gazetted holiday)[7][8]Telangana, Assam, Bihar, Goa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Manipur, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, West Bengal, Odisha, Rajasthan,
1 MayMaharashtra DayMaharashtra
1 MayGujarat DayGujarat
9 May Rabindra JayantiWest Bengal
16 MayAnnexation DaySikkim
2 JuneTelangana Formation DayTelangana
15 JuneMaharana Pratap JayantiRajasthan
Purnima of Ashvin MonthValmiki JayantiKarnataka
26 OctoberAccession DayJammu and Kashmir
31 OctoberSardar Patel JayantiGujarat
1 NovemberKarnataka RajyotsavaKarnataka
1 NovemberAndhra Pradesh Foundation DayAndhra Pradesh
1 NovemberHaryana Foundation DayHaryana
1 NovemberMadhya Pradesh Foundation DayMadhya Pradesh
1 NovemberKerala Foundation DayKerala
1 NovemberChhattisgarh Foundation DayChhattisgarh
3rd Day of Kartika (month) Krishna Paksha (November)Kanaka JayantiKarnataka
7 DecemberArmed Forces Flag DayIndian military

The large number of holidays

While having so many government holidays is in line with the idea of peaceful co-existence of all religions, there have been demands from various public bodies that the system of a multitude of religious holidays is hampering economic activities to a great extent. The past two Central Government Pay Commissions [1] have recommended the abolition of all Central Government holidays on religious festivals, and instead, substituting them with the three national holidays, i.e., Independence Day (15 August), Republic Day (26 January) and Gandhi Jayanti (2 October).

Increasing the number of restricted holidays (optional holidays), depending on one's religious persuasion, from the existing two to eight was also proposed, the rationale being that eight holidays can more than cater to the festivals of any particular religion. So, there is no point in having more than that number of holidays since religion does not warrant a Hindu to celebrate Eid or a Muslim to celebrate Diwali.

With the proposed system, however, it was left to the individual to choose which eight holidays to celebrate, irrespective of his religious belief. This recommendation has not been accepted by the government of India, fearing a loss of popularity, thus the Indian government continues with an unusually large number of religious holidays as compared to most other countries.

Holidays in government offices

Central and State governments in India issue annually a list of holidays to be observed in the respective government offices during the year.[9] The list is divided into two parts:

  • Gazetted holidays (Annexure I)
  • Restricted holidays (Annexure II)

In addition, local administrations also issue a list of holidays known as local holidays, which are observed at the district level.

Central government

The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (Department of Personnel and Training) on behalf of the Government of India issues a list of holidays to be observed in central government offices during the year. The list is divided in two parts i.e. Annexure I & Annexure II.[9]

Annexure I

Annexure I also known as Gazetted holidays, consists of a list of holidays that are mandatory once decided.[9] This list consists of two parts:

  • Para 2
  • Para 3.1
Para 2

It consists of holidays that are observed compulsorily across India.[9] These holidays are:

  1. Republic Day
  2. Independence Day
  3. Gandhi Jayanti
  4. Mahavir Jayanti
  5. Budha Purnima
  6. Christmas Day
  7. Dussehra
  8. Diwali (Deepavali)
  9. Good Friday
  10. Guru Nanak's Birthday
  11. Eid ul-Fitr
  12. Eid al-Adha (Bakrid)§←→
  13. Muharram
  14. Prophet Mohammad's Birthday (Id-e-Milad)

so all the holidays are there

Para 3.1

In addition to the 14 compulsory holidays mentioned in para 2, three holidays are chosen from the list below by the Central Government Employees Welfare Coordination Committee in the State Capitals (if necessary, in consultation with Coordination Committees at other places in the State). The final list is applied uniformly across all Central Government offices within each State. They are notified after seeking the prior approval of this Ministry, and no changes can be made thereafter. No change is permissible in regard to festivals and dates.[9]

  1. An additional day for Dussehra
  2. Holi
  3. Janamashtami (Vaishanvi)
  4. Ram Navami
  5. Maha Shivratri
  6. Ganesh Chaturthi/Vinayak Chaturthi
  7. Makar Sankrantili
  8. Onam
  9. Sri Panchami/Basanta Panchami
  10. Vishu/Vaisakhi/Vaisakhadi/Bhag Bihu/Mashadi Ugadi/Chaitra Sakladi/Cheti Chand/Gudhi Pada 1st Navratra/Nauraj

Annexure II

Annexure II also known as Restricted holidays, consists of a list of holidays which are optional. Each employee is allowed to choose any two holidays from the list of Restricted Holidays. The Coordination Committees at the State Capitals draw up a separate list of Restricted Holidays, keeping in mind the occasions of local importance, but the nine occasions left over, after choosing the three variable holidays in para 3.1, are included in the list of restricted holidays.[9]

Central government organisations

Central Government Organisations, which include industrial, commercial and trading establishments, observe up to 16 holidays per year, including three national holidays, viz. Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, as compulsory holidays. The remaining holidays/occasions may be determined by such establishments/organisations themselves, subject to para 3.2.[9]

Union territory administrations

Union Territory Administrations decide the list of holidays based on Ministry of Home Affairs letter No.14046/27 /83- GP-I dated 15 February 1984, by which they observe a total of 16 holidays, including the three National Holidays, viz. Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi's birthday.[9]

Indian missions abroad

In respect of Indian missions abroad, the number of holidays is determined in accordance with the instructions contained in the Department of Personnel and Training's O.M. No.12/5/2002-JCA dated 17 December 2002. They have the option to select 11 (eleven) holidays of their own only after including the three National Holidays and Diwali, Milad-Un-Nabi or Id-E-Milad, Mahavir Jayanti, Idu'l Fitr, Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami), Guru Nanak's Birthday, Christmas Day as compulsory holidays falling on weekdays.[9]

Banks

In respect to banks, the holidays are restricted to 15 days per year in terms of the instructions issued by the Department of Economic Affairs (Banking Division).[9]

  1. Bank Holiday
  2. Gandhi Jayanti
  3. Mahavir Jayanti
  4. Maharaja Agresen Jayanti
  5. Kashiram Death Anniversary
  6. Dussehra (Maha Navami)
  7. Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami)
  8. Dusshera (Maha Navaratri, Durgotsava, Durga Ashtami, Durga Ashtami)
  9. Deepawali
  10. Deepawali (Govardhan Puja)
  11. Bhai Duj/Chitragupt Jayanti
  12. Eid al-Adha (Bakrid)
  13. Guru Nanak's birthday/Kartik Poornima
  14. Dr. B R. Ambedkar's Nirwan Diwas
  15. Moharram
  16. Christmas
  17. New Year's Day
  18. International Women's Day
  19. Gudhi Padwa
  20. Guru Gobind Singh Ji Gurpurab
  21. Makar Sankaranti
  22. Basanta Panchami
  23. Guru Ravidas Jayanti
  24. Chehalum
  25. Holi
  26. Easter Saturday
  27. Easter Monday
  28. Baishakhi
  29. Janmashtami
  30. Vishwakarma Pooja
  31. Eid ul fitr
  32. Ganesh Chaturthi
  33. Anant chaturdasi
  34. Dussehra (Maha Ashtami)
  35. Maharshi Balmiki Jayanti
  36. Deepawali (Narak Chaturdasi)
  37. Eid ul Adha (Bakrid)
  38. Guru Teg Bahadur Shahid Diwas
  39. Moharram
  40. Christmas

See also

References

  1. ↑ National holidays
  2. ↑ National and Public holidays
  3. ↑ "Introduction to Constitution of India". Ministry of Law and Justice of India. 29 July 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
  4. ↑ http://www.telanganateachers.in/general-holiday-on-6-10-2014-bakra-eid-bakri-eid/
  5. ↑ Dec.26 declared public holiday
  6. ↑ Thousands take part in Ayya Vaikundar Avatar day - The Hindu, India's National Daily, 04-03-2012, ' " The government had also declared a restricted holiday on Saturday, for the first time, in the State in view of Ayya Vaikundar Avatar day. " '
  7. ↑ http://india.gov.in/calendar
  8. ↑ http://goir.ap.gov.in/CalenderYear.aspx
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Holidays to be observed in central government offices during 2017 Note a new version of this document is released each year, and old versions may not be available beyond one or two years previous. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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