About India Holidays & Observances
Public holidays in India (frequently termed public holidays locally) represent dates defined by government legislation to provide workers and schools with paid time off. These holidays are deeply rooted in the nation's civic, historical, and religious fabric.
Whether celebrating foundational national acts like Independence, honoring local heroes, or observing significant spiritual and seasonal celebrations, the India holiday calendar is highly diverse. When holidays fall on weekends, businesses and government authorities often declare a substitute public holiday on the preceding Friday or following Monday to extend long weekends.
Planning Around Long Weekends
Long weekends are marked in amber shading in the table above. These days represent exceptional high-ROI travel and relaxation periods. Planning holiday logistics ahead of time can unlock maximum efficiency for personal and family travel schedules.
Frequently Asked Questions — India Public Holidays
The three official national holidays of India are Republic Day (January 26), Independence Day (August 15), and Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday / Gandhi Jayanti (October 2).
Gazetted holidays are mandatory public holidays observed nationwide by government offices, banks, and schools. Restricted holidays are optional leaves that employees can choose from a list of religious or regional observances.
Yes, Diwali (Deepavali) is one of the major gazetted public holidays celebrated across virtually all Indian states.
While the central government mandates 17 gazetted holidays, individual states have their own regional calendar, often totaling 20 to 30 public holidays depending on the location.