Public holidays in India

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India, being a culturally diverse and fervent society, celebrates various holidays and festivals. There are three national holidays in India: Independence Day, Republic Day and Gandhi Jayanti. States and regions have local festivals depending on prevalent religious and linguistic demographics. Popular religious festivals include the Hindu festivals of Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, Holi, Dussehra, Islamic festivals of Eid ul-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Mawlid an-Nabī and Christian festivals of Christmas and days of observances such as Good Friday are observed throughout the country.

Muharram, the starting of the Islamic new year is observed by many sects of Islam. In addition, the Sikh festivals such as Guru Nanak Gurpurab, the Christian festivals such as Christmas, Good Friday and Jain festivals like Mahavir Jayanti, Paryushan are celebrated in certain areas where these religions have a significant following.The annual holidays are widely observed by state and local governments; however, they may alter the dates of observance or add or subtract holidays according to local custom.

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:

Date	English name
26 January	Republic Day
15 August	Independence Day
2 October	Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday

Hindu holidays

People celebrating Holiin Delhi.

Hindus celebrate a number of festivals all through the year. From celebrating the advent of spring to celebrating the win of good over evil, Hindu religion and culture provide its followers endless reasons to celebrate. Given below is the list of just a few of these festivals that are celebrated with great zest and fervor, vigour and vim.

For dates see:

Main article: Hindu festivals

Holiday	Observed in
Gudhi Padva (aka Ugadi)	Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu
Ratha Saptami	Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka
Akshay Tritiya	Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,Ker
Bhogi	Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra
Pongal/Sankranti	Andaman & Nicobar, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam (as Magh Bihu), Bihar (as Makar Sankranti), Gujarat (as Uttarayan), Karnataka, Orissa , Uttar Pradesh (as Makar Sankranti), Maharashtra (as Makar Sankranti), Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan
Thiruvalluvar Day	Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu
Uzhavar Thirunal (Farmers' Day)	Tamil Nadu
Vasant Panchami/Saraswati Puja	Orissa, Tripura, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra
Maha Shivaratri	Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chandigarh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal
Naag Panchami or Guga-Navami	all states and territories except Goa
Holi (Aka, Dol)	all states and territories except Karnataka, Kerala, Nagaland, Mizoram,Goa, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu
Maharishi Parasuram Jayanti	Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh
Rath Jatra	Orissa
Ram Navami	Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
Hanuman Jayanti	Maharashtra, Orissa, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh (as Bada Mangal)
Raksha Bandhan (Aka, Rákhi Púrńimá)	Andhra Pradesh,Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Haryana, Orissa, Punjab,Maharashtra
Krishna Janmashtami	Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal
Ganesh Chaturthi	Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka
Onam	Kerala, Pondicherry
Raja Parba	Orissa
Mahalaya	Karnataka, West Bengal, Assam, Orissa
Dussehra (Aka, Durgá Pujá)	all states holiday for 2 days in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh holiday for 3 days in Orissa, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya and Tripura holiday for 6 days in West Bengal 11th day Bhashani Utchhav in Orissa
Kumara Purnima (aka Kojaagari Pornima)	Maharashtra (as Kojaagari Pornima), Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, West Bengal.
Diwali (Aka, Káli Puja and Diipávali)	all states and territories observed for 2 days in Assam, West Bengal, Karnataka, Orissa, observed for 5 days in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh,Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh observed for 6 days in Maharashtra Vasu Baras (aka Govatsa Dwadashi) Maharashtra Dhan Teras (aka Dhan Trayodashi) Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh Naraka Chaturdashi all states Lakshmi Puja Maharashtra, Orissa, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, West Bengal and Tripura Goverdhan Pooja all states Bhai Duj (Aka, Bhau-beej, Yama Dwitiya, Bhai Phota) Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh
Devotthan Ekadashi	Uttarakhand,Uttar Pradesh,Bihar,and some parts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh
Hartalika Teej	Maharashtra, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh
Jagaddhatri Puja	West Bengal
Visvakarma Puja	Orissa, West Bengal
Nuakhai	Orissa
Chhath	Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh
Bathukamma	Andhra Pradesh
Bonalu	Andhra Pradesh

Ayyavazhi holidays

Holiday	Observed in
Ayya Vaikunda Avataram	Tamil Nadu

Buddhist holidays

Holiday	Observed in
Losar	Sikkim, Ladakh
Buddha Purnima	Andaman & Nicobar, Arunachal Pradesh,Tripura, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh

Christian holidays

Shops selling Christmas decorations in Kolkata.

Date	Holiday	Observed in
	Good Friday	all states and territories except Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Tripura
	Easter Sunday	all states and territories except Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Tripura
3 July	Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle	Kerala
8 September	Feast of the Blessed Virgin	Tamil Nadu, Goa
3 December	Feast of St. Francis Xavier	Goa
25 December	Christmas Day	all states and territories

Islamic holidays

Mawlid or Eid-e-Milād-un-Nabī being celebrated in a town in Uttar Pradesh.

Holiday	Observed in
Day of Ashura 10th Day of Muharram	All States & Territories.
Mawlid Eid-e-Milād-un-Nabī Baarah Wafaat Prophet's Birthday	All States & Territories.
Shab-e-Barat Mid-Sha'ban	Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jahrkhand, West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
Birthday of Ali ibn Abi talib Terah Rajab Hazrat Ali	Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
Jumat-ul-Wida Alvida Last Friday in Ramadan	Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh
Eid ul-Fitr Eid End of Ramadan	all states and territories
Eid al-Adha Bakr-Eid Feast of the Sacrifice	all states and territories

Jain holidays

Holiday	Observed in
Mahavir Jayanti	Andaman & Nicobar, Bihar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, 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 a lot 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.

Holiday	Observed in
Nowruz (Parsee New Year)	Gujarat, Maharashtra

Ravidassia holidays

Holiday	Observed in
Guru Ravidass Jayanti	Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan,Jammu & Kashmir, Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh.

Sikh holidays

Holiday	Observed in
Guru Gobind Singh Ji Gurpurab	Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab
Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji	Punjab
Vaisakhi	Andaman & Nicobar, Assam, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
Guru Nanak Gurpurab	Andaman & Nicobar, Assam, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Jharkhand

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 as holidays.

For 2012 dates, please see Public Holidays India 2012

Date	Holiday	Observed in
1 January	New Year's Day	Most of India
23 January	Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's Birthday	Orissa, Tripura, West Bengal
19 February	Maharaja Shivaji's Birthday	Maharashtra
15 March	Kanshi Ram's Birthday	Uttar Pradesh
22 March	Bihar Day	Bihar
30 March	Rajasthan Day	Rajasthan
1 April	Utkal Dibasa (Orissa day)	Orissa
14 April	Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's Birthday	Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
2nd Day of Chaitra, March–April	Cheti Chand (Sindhi New Year)	Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh
1st Day of Chaitra, March–April	Gudhi Padva (Marathi New Year)	Goa, Maharashtra
1st Day of Chaitra, March–April	Ugadi (Kannada and Telugu New Year)	Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu
15 April	Bihu (Assamese New Year)	Assam
15 April	Maha Vishuva Sankranti / Pana Sankranti (Oriya New Year)	Orissa
14/15 April	Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year)	Tripura, West Bengal
1st Day of Chithirai, March–April	Vishu / Varusha Pirappu or Puthandu (Malayali & Tamil New Year)	Kerala, Tamil Nadu
1 May	Labour Day	Assam, Bihar, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, West Bengal, Orissa
1 May	Maharashtra Day	Maharashtra
1 May	Gujarat Day	Gujarat
16 May	Annexation Day	Sikkim
15 June	Maharana Pratap Jayanti	Rajasthan
Purnima of Ashvin Month	Valmiki Jayanthi	Karnataka
26 October	Accession Day	Jammu and Kashmir
31 October	Sardar Patel Jayanti	Gujarat
1 November	Andhra Pradesh Foundation Day	Andhra Pradesh
1 November	Madhya Pradesh Foundation Day	Madhya Pradesh
	Karnataka Foundation Day	Karnataka
	Kerala Foundation Day	Kerala
	Chhattisgarh Foundation Day	Chhattisgarh
3rd Day Of Kartika (month) Krishna Paksha	Kanaka Jayanti	Karnataka
7 December	Armed Forces Flag Day	Indian military

Issues with large number of holidays

While having so many Government Holidays keep 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 Govt. Pay Commissions [1] have recommended the abolition of all Central Govt. Holidays on religious festivals, and instead, substitute with three national Holidays, i.e., Independence Day (15 August), Republic Day (26 January) and Gandhi Jayanti (2 October).

It was also recommended to increase the amount of existing Restricted Holidays (Optional Holidays) depending on one's religious persuasion from existing two to eight. The rationale being, 8 holidays can more than cater for the festivals of any particular religion. So there is no point in having more than these many number of holidays, since religion does not warrant a Hindu to celebrate Id or a Muslim to celebrate Diwali.

With the proposed system, however, it was left to the individual to choose which 8 Holidays to celebrate, irrespective of his religious belief. However, this recommendation has not been accepted by the Govt. of India, fearing a loss of popularity^{[citation needed]}, and thus Indian Govt. continues with an unusually large number of religious holidays as compared to most other countries.

Holidays in government offices

Central & State governments in India annually issue list of holidays to be observed in respective government offices during the respective year. List is divided into two parts:

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

Apart from this local administration at district level also issue list of additional holidays known as local holidays, which are observed at district level.

Central government

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

Annexure I

Annexure I also known as Gazetted holidays, consists of list of holidays which are mandatory once decided. This list consists of two parts:

• Para 2
• Para 3.1

Para 2

It consists of holidays which have to be observed compulsorily across India. These holidays are:

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

Para 3.1

In addition to the above 14 Compulsory holidays mentioned in para 2, three holidays are decided from the list indicated 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 applicable uniformly to all Central Government offices within the concerned State shall. they are notified after seeking prior approval of this Ministry and no change can be carried out thereafter. No change is permissible in regard to festivals and dates.

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. Rath Yatra
9. Onam
10. Sri Panchami / Basanta Panchami
11. 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 list of holidays which are optional. Each employee is allowed to avail any two holidays to be chosen out of the list of Restricted Holidays. The Coordination Committees at the State Capitals draw up separate list of Restricted Holidays keeping in view the occasions of local importance but the 9 occasions left over, after choosing the 3 variable holidays in para 3.1, are to be included in the list of restricted holidays.

Central government organisations

Central Government Organisations which include industrial, commercial and trading establishments observe up to 16 holidays in a 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.

Union territory administrations

Union Territory Administrations decide the list of holidays in terms of 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 & Mahatma Gandhi's birthday.

Indian missions abroad

In respect of Indian Missions abroad, the number of holidays are notified in accordance with the instructions contained in Department of Personnel and Training's O.M. No.12/5/2002-JCA dated 17 December 2002. In other words, they have the option to select 11(Eleven) holidays of their own only after including in the list, three National Holidays and Milad-Un-Nabi or Id-E-Milad, Mahavir Jayanti, Idu'l Fitr, Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami), Guru Nanak's Birthday, Christmas Day included in the list of compulsory holidays and falling on days of weekly off.

Banks

Main article: Bank holidays in India

In respect of Banks, the holidays are restricted to 15 days in a year in terms of the instructions issued by the Department of Economic Affairs (BankingDivision).

1. Bank's Holiday
2. Gandhi Jayanti
3. Maharaja Agresen Jayanti
4. Kashiram Death Anniversary
5. Dussehra (Maha Navami)
6. Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami)
7. Deepawali
8. Deepawali (Govardhan Puja)
9. Bhai Duj/Chitragupt Jayanti
10. Eid al-Adha (Bakrid)
11. Guru Nanak's birthday/Kartik Poornima
12. Dr. B R. Ambedkar's Nirwan Diwas
13. Moharram
14. Christmas

Restricted holidays

1. New Year's Day
2. Guru Gobind Singh Ji Jayanti
3. Makar Sankaranti
4. Basanta Panchami
5. Guru Ravidas Jayanti
6. Chehalum
7. Holi
8. Istar Saturday
9. Istar Monday
10. Baishakhi
11. Janmashtami
12. Vishwakarma Pooja
13. Eid ul fitr
14. Anant chaturdasi
15. Dussehra (Maha Ashtami)
16. Maharshi Balmiki Jayanti
17. Deepawali (Narak Chaturdasi)
18. Eid ul Adha (bakrid)
19. Guru Teg Bahadur Shahid Diwas
20. Moharram
21. Christmas Eve

See also

• Bank holidays in India
• Indian New Year's days
• List of Hindu festivals

External links

• Indian Public Holidays