Public holidays
India: 18 public holiday dates in 2026 (18 days off) and 18 in 2027 (18 days off), with 246 working days in 2026 and 250 in 2027. National holidays only: regional ones are not included.
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday 26 January 2026 | 2026-W05 | Republic Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 4 March 2026 | 2026-W10 | Holi | Yes |
| Saturday 21 March 2026 | 2026-W12 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Thursday 26 March 2026 | 2026-W13 | Ram Navami | Yes |
| Tuesday 31 March 2026 | 2026-W14 | Mahavira's Birthday | Yes |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Tuesday 14 April 2026 | 2026-W16 | Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's Birthday | Yes |
| Friday 1 May 2026 | 2026-W18 | Buddha Purnima | Yes |
| Wednesday 27 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Friday 26 June 2026 | 2026-W26 | Ashura | Yes |
| Saturday 15 August 2026 | 2026-W33 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 26 August 2026 | 2026-W35 | Prophet's Birthday | Yes |
| Friday 4 September 2026 | 2026-W36 | Janmashtami (Vaishnava) | Yes |
| Friday 2 October 2026 | 2026-W40 | Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday | Yes |
| Tuesday 20 October 2026 | 2026-W43 | Dussehra | Yes |
| Sunday 8 November 2026 | 2026-W45 | Diwali | Yes |
| Tuesday 24 November 2026 | 2026-W48 | Guru Nanak's Birthday | Yes |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Christmas | Yes |
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 26 January 2027 | 2027-W04 | Republic Day | Yes |
| Saturday 6 March 2027 | 2027-W09 | Maha Shivaratri | Yes |
| Wednesday 10 March 2027 | 2027-W10 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Monday 22 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Holi | Yes |
| Friday 26 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Wednesday 14 April 2027 | 2027-W15 | Dr. B. R. Ambedkar's Birthday | Yes |
| Thursday 15 April 2027 | 2027-W15 | Ram Navami | Yes |
| Sunday 18 April 2027 | 2027-W15 | Mahavira's Birthday | Yes |
| Monday 17 May 2027 | 2027-W20 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Thursday 20 May 2027 | 2027-W20 | Buddha Purnima | Yes |
| Wednesday 16 June 2027 | 2027-W24 | Ashura | Yes |
| Sunday 15 August 2027 | 2027-W32 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 25 August 2027 | 2027-W34 | Janmashtami (Vaishnava) | Yes |
| Saturday 2 October 2027 | 2027-W39 | Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday | Yes |
| Saturday 9 October 2027 | 2027-W40 | Dussehra | Yes |
| Friday 29 October 2027 | 2027-W43 | Diwali | Yes |
| Sunday 14 November 2027 | 2027-W45 | Guru Nanak's Birthday | Yes |
| Saturday 25 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Christmas | Yes |
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ram Navami | Thursday 26 March 2026 | Thursday 15 April 2027 | +20 days, changes month |
| Buddha Purnima | Friday 1 May 2026 | Thursday 20 May 2027 | +19 days |
| Holi | Wednesday 4 March 2026 | Monday 22 March 2027 | +18 days |
| Mahavira's Birthday | Tuesday 31 March 2026 | Sunday 18 April 2027 | +18 days, changes month |
| Eid al-Fitr | Saturday 21 March 2026 | Wednesday 10 March 2027 | −11 days |
| Dussehra | Tuesday 20 October 2026 | Saturday 9 October 2027 | −11 days |
| Eid al-Adha | Wednesday 27 May 2026 | Monday 17 May 2027 | −10 days |
| Ashura | Friday 26 June 2026 | Wednesday 16 June 2027 | −10 days |
| Janmashtami (Vaishnava) | Friday 4 September 2026 | Wednesday 25 August 2027 | −10 days, changes month |
| Diwali | Sunday 8 November 2026 | Friday 29 October 2027 | −10 days, changes month |
| Guru Nanak's Birthday | Tuesday 24 November 2026 | Sunday 14 November 2027 | −10 days |
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April 2026 | Friday 26 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
A shift ignores the year: +19 days means 19 days later in the calendar.
| Month | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21 | 20 | −1 |
| February | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| March | 19 | 20 | +1 |
| April | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| May | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| June | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| July | 23 | 22 | −1 |
| August | 20 | 21 | +1 |
| September | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| October | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| November | 20 | 22 | +2 |
| December | 22 | 23 | +1 |
| Q1 | 60 | 60 | 0 |
| Q2 | 60 | 60 | 0 |
| Q3 | 64 | 65 | +1 |
| Q4 | 62 | 65 | +3 |
| Year | 246 | 250 | +4 |
Weekdays by the local weekend (Sunday and Saturday), minus the public holidays most people have off.
Republic Day marks the coming into force of the Constitution of India on 26 January 1950, which turned the country from a dominion into a republic. It is commonly associated with parades, political speeches, cultural events and ceremonies.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
Holi is a major Hindu festival of colours, love and spring. It celebrates the love between Radha and Krishna and the triumph of good over evil, and marks the arrival of spring. In the Caribbean, in Guyana, Suriname and elsewhere, it is known as Phagwah.
At work: Very welcome to mention, and a cheerful one.
Eid al-Fitr, the "festival of breaking the fast", is the first of the two main festivals in Islam. It falls on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, and marks the end of the month-long, dawn-to-dusk fasting of Ramadan. It begins with a communal prayer and is followed by visits to relatives, giving gifts and sharing meals.
At work: Very welcome to mention. Its date follows the lunar calendar and shifts every year, so keep plans flexible. During Ramadan itself, colleagues who fast may prefer meetings earlier in the day and not over lunch.
Celebrates the birth of Lord Rama. It falls on the ninth day of the bright half of the Hindu month of Chaitra (March–April). People fast, pray, recite from the Ramayana, visit temples and join processions.
At work: Fine to mention. Many Hindu colleagues fast, so lunches and long meetings may be harder.
Mahavir Jayanti marks the birth of Mahavira, whom Jains consider the 24th and last Tirthankara (teacher) of the current cycle. It honours non-violence (ahimsa). Jains hold processions, with an idol of Mahavira carried on a chariot, and rallies for non-violence.
At work: Respectful to mention. A day off in India. Jain colleagues may spend the day at a temple.
A solemn Christian holy day commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus, observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum. It falls on the Friday immediately before Easter Sunday.
At work: Fine to mention the long weekend. It is a sombre day for those who observe it, so avoid "Happy Good Friday". Its date moves every year with Easter, so check the calendar when planning spring deadlines.
Ambedkar Jayanti marks the birthday of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar (born 14 April 1891), the principal architect of India's Constitution and the first Law and Justice minister. He was born into a Dalit caste and campaigned against caste discrimination. Processions are held in his memory, and the day is also called Equality Day by some.
At work: Fine to mention. It is a respectful commemoration of social justice more than a party. A day off.
Marks the birth of the Buddha, celebrated on the full moon of the month of Vaisakha as part of Vesak, which also marks his enlightenment and death. At the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya the day is celebrated with great enthusiasm.
At work: Respectful to mention. A day off in India. Buddhist colleagues may spend the day at a temple.
Eid al-Adha, the "festival of the sacrifice", is the second of the two main festivals in Islam. It falls on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijja, the last month of the Islamic calendar. It honours the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son at God's command. The Eid prayer is held in the morning, followed by the ritual sacrifice of a livestock animal, and celebrations carry on for the three following days.
At work: Very welcome to mention. As with Eid al-Fitr, the date follows the lunar calendar, so keep plans flexible.
Ashura is a day of commemoration in Islam, on the tenth of Muharram. For Shia Muslims it is a day of mourning, commemorating the death of Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and the third Shia Imam, at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. Sunni Muslims also regard the killing of Husayn as a tragic event, and Ashura also marks the parting of the Red Sea by Moses and the salvation of the Israelites. Observances differ between communities.
At work: Solemn, so "Happy" does not fit. Be respectful and keep it neutral.
Independence Day commemorates India's independence from the United Kingdom on 15 August 1947, when the Indian Independence Act came into effect. On that day Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister, raised the national flag above the Lahori Gate of the Red Fort in Delhi, and the Prime Minister does so on each Independence Day.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
Mawlid is an annual festival commemorating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, on 12 Rabi' al-awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar. It was first publicly celebrated by Gökböri, a deputy of Saladin, and the Ottomans declared it an official holiday. Celebrants recite religious poetry in praise of Muhammad.
At work: Respectful to mention. Not every colleague marks it in the same way.
Celebrates the birth of Krishna. Devotees fast and sing until midnight, the hour of his birth, then many break the fast with a feast. In Maharashtra the next day is Dahi Handi, when teams form human pyramids to break a pot of curd hung high above the street.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off in India. Many Hindu colleagues fast, so the evening may be taken up.
Gandhi Jayanti, on 2 October, honours the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, a key leader of the Indian independence movement and a pioneer of nonviolence. It is one of India's three national holidays, with Independence Day and Republic Day. In 2007 the UN General Assembly declared the day the International Day of Non-Violence.
At work: Fine to mention; it is a respectful rather than a festive day. It is marked with prayer services and tributes across India, including at Gandhi's memorial at Raj Ghat in New Delhi.
Vijayadashami, also known as Dasara or Dussehra, is a major Hindu festival at the end of Durga Puja and Navaratri. In southern, eastern and north-eastern India it marks the end of Durga Puja and the goddess Durga's victory over Mahishasura. In northern, central and western states it marks the end of Ramlila and Rama's victory over Ravana, and in some places towering effigies of Ravana are burnt with fireworks. Diwali is celebrated twenty days later.
At work: Fine to mention. It starts the run-up to Diwali, about twenty days later.
Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, with variations celebrated by Jains and Sikhs. It symbolises the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Celebrants light their homes, temples and workplaces with oil lamps, candles and lanterns, and the festival is marked with fireworks. It is connected to Rama's return to his kingdom after defeating the demon king Ravana, and to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity.
At work: Very welcome to mention, especially among Hindus. The celebrations generally last five or six days, so some colleagues may be away.
Gurpurab marks the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism (born 1469). Gurdwaras hold a non-stop reading of the Guru Granth Sahib (Akhand Path) before the day, processions through the neighbourhood singing hymns, and langar, the free community meal that everyone is invited to share.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off. Sikh colleagues often spend it at the gurdwara with family.
Christians are a minority in India, but Christmas is a public holiday for everyone. It is celebrated most in Goa, Kerala and the north-east states of Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram. Midnight mass, star-shaped lanterns, carol singing and plum cake are part of it.
At work: Very welcome to mention. Colleagues of other faiths often join in the lights and the sweets.
The "Great Night of Shiva", a Hindu festival dedicated to Shiva. Devotees fast, chant and pray through the night, and visit temples. It is one of the largest annual festivals at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, and in Mauritius Hindus make a pilgrimage to the crater lake of Ganga Talao.
At work: Respectful to mention. Many Hindu colleagues fast or spend the night at a temple, so they may be tired the next day.
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