Regardless of the type of holiday, these breaks from the daily routine can have significant benefits for mental and physical health. Taking time away from work or other stressors can help individuals reduce their stress levels, improve their mood, and increase their overall sense of well-being. Studies have also shown that taking regular vacations can help reduce the risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, and improve sleep quality. Ultimately, holidays offer individuals an important opportunity to improve their physical and mental health, reconnect with loved ones, and experience new things.
Public holidays are approved by the Government of West Bengal Finance Department under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instrument Act 1881. Sundays are holidays under the Negotiable Instrument Act as well. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, they are not listed as a public holiday.
2024 List of Holidays, West Bengal Public Holidays PDF
Date |
Day |
Holiday |
12 January |
Friday |
Swami Vivekananda Jayanti |
23 |
Tuesday |
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti |
26 |
Fri |
Republic Day |
14 February |
Wednesday |
Vasant Panchami |
25 March |
Mon |
Doljatra |
29 March |
Fri |
Good Friday |
10 April |
Wednesday |
Idul Fitr |
14 April |
Sun |
Dr Ambedkar Jayanti |
14 Apil |
Sun |
Bengali New Year |
1 May |
Wednesday |
May Day |
8 May |
Wednesday |
Guru Rabindranath Jayanti |
23 May |
Thursday |
Buddha Purnima |
17 June |
Mon |
Bakrid / Eid al Adha |
15 August |
Thursday |
Independence Day |
2 October |
Wednesday |
Mahalaya Amavasye |
2 October |
Wednesday |
Gandhi Jayanti |
10 October |
Thursday |
Maha Saptami |
11 |
Fri |
Maha Ashtami |
12 |
Saturday |
Maha Navami |
13 |
Sun |
Vijaya Dashami |
17 |
Thursday |
Lakshmi Puja |
1 Novembar |
Fri |
Diwali |
15 Novembar |
Fri |
Guru Nanak Jayanti |
25 December |
Wednesday |
Christmas Day |
Download: 2024 List of Holidays, West Bengal Public Holidays PDF
West Bengal Public Holidays 2023
Date |
Day |
Holiday |
12 Jan |
Thu |
Swami Vivekananda
Jayanti |
23 Jan |
Mon |
Netaji
Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti |
26 Jan |
Thu |
Republic
Day |
26 Jan |
Thu |
Vasant Panchami |
5 Feb |
Sun |
Guru
Ravidas Jayanti |
7 Mar |
Tue |
Doljatra |
4 Apr |
Tue |
Mahavir
Jayanti |
7 Apr |
Fri |
Good Friday |
14 Apr |
Fri |
Dr
Ambedkar Jayanti |
15 Apr |
Sat |
Bengali New Year |
22 Apr |
Sat |
Idul
Fitr |
1 May |
Mon |
May Day |
5 May |
Fri |
Buddha Purnima |
9 May |
Tue |
Guru
Rabindranath Jayanti |
29 Jun |
Thu |
Bakrid
/ Eid al Adha |
29 Jul |
Sat |
Muharram |
15 Aug |
Tue |
Independence
Day |
2 Oct |
Mon |
Gandhi
Jayanti |
14 Oct |
Sat |
Mahalaya
Amavasye |
21 Oct |
Sat |
Maha Saptami |
22 Oct |
Sun |
Maha
Ashtami |
23 Oct |
Mon |
Maha Navami |
24 Oct |
Tue |
Vijaya
Dashami |
28 Oct |
Sat |
Lakshmi Puja |
12 Nov |
Sun |
Diwali |
19 Nov |
Sun |
Chhath Puja |
27 Nov |
Mon |
Guru
Nanak Jayanti |
25 Dec |
Mon |
Christmas Day |
Holidays and Observances in India in 2023
Date |
|
Name |
Type |
|
1 Jan |
Sunday |
New
Year's Day |
Restricted Holiday |
|
14 Jan |
Saturday |
Makar
Sankranti |
Restricted Holiday |
|
14 Jan |
Saturday |
Lohri |
Observance |
|
15 Jan |
Sunday |
Pongal |
Restricted Holiday |
|
22 Jan |
Sunday |
Lunar
New Year |
Observance |
|
26 Jan |
Thursday |
Republic
Day |
Gazetted Holiday |
|
26 Jan |
Thursday |
Vasant
Panchami |
Restricted Holiday |
|
5 Feb |
Sunday |
Guru
Ravidas Jayanti |
Restricted Holiday |
|
5 Feb |
Sunday |
Hazarat
Ali's Birthday |
Restricted Holiday |
|
14 Feb |
Tuesday |
Valentine's
Day |
Observance |
|
15 Feb |
Wednesday |
Maharishi
Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti |
Restricted Holiday |
|
18 Feb |
Saturday |
Maha
Shivaratri/Shivaratri |
Restricted Holiday |
|
19 Feb |
Sunday |
Shivaji
Jayanti |
Restricted Holiday |
|
7 Mar |
Tuesday |
Dolyatra |
Restricted Holiday |
|
7 Mar |
Tuesday |
Holika
Dahana |
Restricted Holiday |
|
8 Mar |
Wednesday |
Holi |
Gazetted Holiday |
|
21 Mar |
Tuesday |
March
Equinox |
Season |
|
22 Mar |
Wednesday |
Chaitra
Sukhladi |
Restricted Holiday |
|
22 Mar |
Wednesday |
Ugadi |
Restricted Holiday |
|
22 Mar |
Wednesday |
Gudi
Padwa |
Restricted Holiday |
|
24 Mar |
Friday |
Ramadan
Start |
Observance |
|
30 Mar |
Thursday |
Rama
Navami |
Gazetted Holiday |
|
4 Apr |
Tuesday |
Mahavir
Jayanti |
Gazetted Holiday |
|
6 Apr |
Thursday |
First
day of Passover |
Observance |
|
6 Apr |
Thursday |
Maundy
Thursday |
Observance, Christian |
|
7 Apr |
Friday |
Good
Friday |
Gazetted Holiday |
|
9 Apr |
Sunday |
Easter
Day |
Restricted Holiday |
|
14 Apr |
Friday |
Vaisakhi |
Restricted Holiday |
|
14 Apr |
Friday |
Ambedkar
Jayanti |
Observance |
|
15 Apr |
Saturday |
Mesadi
/ Vaisakhadi |
Restricted Holiday |
|
21 Apr |
Friday |
Jamat
Ul-Vida (Tentative Date) |
Restricted Holiday |
|
22 Apr |
Saturday |
Ramzan
Id/Eid-ul-Fitar (Tentative Date) |
Gazetted Holiday |
|
22 Apr |
Saturday |
Ramzan
Id/Eid-ul-Fitar (Tentative Date) |
Muslim, Common local holiday |
|
1 May |
Monday |
International
Worker's Day |
Observance |
|
5 May |
Friday |
Buddha
Purnima/Vesak |
Gazetted Holiday |
|
9 May |
Tuesday |
Birthday
of Rabindranath |
Restricted Holiday |
|
14 May |
Sunday |
Mother's
Day |
Observance |
|
18 Jun |
Sunday |
Father's
Day |
Observance |
|
20 Jun |
Tuesday |
Rath
Yatra |
Restricted Holiday |
|
21 Jun |
Wednesday |
June
Solstice |
Season |
|
29 Jun |
Thursday |
Bakrid/Eid
ul-Adha (Tentative Date) |
Gazetted Holiday |
|
3 Jul |
Monday |
Guru
Purnima |
Observance |
|
29 Jul |
Saturday |
Muharram/Ashura
(Tentative Date) |
Gazetted Holiday |
|
6 Aug |
Sunday |
Friendship
Day |
Observance |
|
15 Aug |
Tuesday |
Independence
Day |
Gazetted Holiday |
|
16 Aug |
Wednesday |
Parsi
New Year |
Restricted Holiday |
|
20 Aug |
Sunday |
Vinayaka
Chathurthi |
Restricted Holiday |
|
29 Aug |
Tuesday |
Onam |
Restricted Holiday |
|
30 Aug |
Wednesday |
Raksha
Bandhan (Rakhi) |
Restricted Holiday |
|
6 Sep |
Wednesday |
Janmashtami
(Smarta) |
Restricted Holiday |
|
7 Sep |
Thursday |
Janmashtami |
Gazetted Holiday |
|
19 Sep |
Tuesday |
Ganesh
Chaturthi/Vinayaka Chaturthi |
Restricted Holiday |
|
23 Sep |
Saturday |
September
Equinox |
Season |
|
28 Sep |
Thursday |
Milad
un-Nabi/Id-e-Milad (Tentative Date) |
Gazetted Holiday |
|
2 Oct |
Monday |
Mahatma
Gandhi Jayanti |
Gazetted Holiday |
|
15 Oct |
Sunday |
First
Day of Sharad Navratri |
Observance, Hinduism |
|
20 Oct |
Friday |
First
Day of Durga Puja Festivities |
Observance, Hinduism |
|
21 Oct |
Saturday |
Maha
Saptami |
Restricted Holiday |
|
22 Oct |
Sunday |
Maha
Ashtami |
Restricted Holiday |
|
23 Oct |
Monday |
Maha
Navami |
Restricted Holiday |
|
24 Oct |
Tuesday |
Dussehra |
Gazetted Holiday |
|
28 Oct |
Saturday |
Maharishi
Valmiki Jayanti |
Restricted Holiday |
|
31 Oct |
Tuesday |
Halloween |
Observance |
|
1 Nov |
Wednesday |
Karaka
Chaturthi (Karva Chauth) |
Restricted Holiday |
|
12 Nov |
Sunday |
Naraka
Chaturdasi |
Restricted Holiday |
|
12 Nov |
Sunday |
Diwali/Deepavali |
Gazetted Holiday |
|
13 Nov |
Monday |
Govardhan
Puja |
Restricted Holiday |
|
15 Nov |
Wednesday |
Bhai
Duj |
Restricted Holiday |
|
19 Nov |
Sunday |
Chhat
Puja (Pratihar Sashthi/Surya Sashthi) |
Restricted Holiday |
|
24 Nov |
Friday |
Guru
Tegh Bahadur's Martyrdom Day |
Restricted Holiday |
|
27 Nov |
Monday |
Guru
Nanak Jayanti |
Gazetted Holiday |
|
8 Dec |
Friday |
First
Day of Hanukkah |
Observance |
|
15 Dec |
Friday |
Last
day of Hanukkah |
Observance |
|
22 Dec |
Friday |
December
Solstice |
Season |
|
24 Dec |
Sunday |
Christmas
Eve |
Restricted Holiday |
|
25 Dec |
Monday |
Christmas |
Gazetted Holiday |
|
31 Dec |
Sunday |
New
Year's Eve |
Observance |
- Free Download 2017 Holiday Calendar (With IMAGE)
FAQs of Holidays
Indian holidays are diverse and numerous, with celebrations throughout the year for different religions, cultures, and regions. If you're visiting India or planning to live here, it's helpful to know more about these holidays. In this blog post, we'll answer some of the most commonly asked questions about Indian holidays.Q: How many public holidays does India have?
A: India has three types of holidays - national holidays, regional holidays, and bank holidays. There are 14 national holidays, which are observed across the country, while regional holidays vary by state and can range from 1-20 days. Bank holidays are determined by each individual bank, although they usually follow the national holiday calendar.
Q: What are some of the major national holidays in India?
A: Some of the major national holidays in India include Republic Day (January 26), Independence Day (August 15), Gandhi Jayanti (October 2), and Christmas Day (December 25).
Q: What are some of the major regional holidays in India?
A: Regional holidays in India vary widely depending on the state, but some popular ones include Diwali (a festival of lights celebrated throughout India), Onam (a harvest festival in Kerala), Durga Puja (a celebration of the goddess Durga in West Bengal), and Pongal (a harvest festival in Tamil Nadu).
Q: Do businesses and schools close during holidays?
A: Yes, most businesses and schools close during national and regional holidays. However, some essential services such as hospitals, transportation, and emergency services remain open.
Q: What should I expect during major holidays in India?
A: During major holidays, expect crowded streets, busy markets, and lively celebrations. Depending on the holiday, you may see people dressed in traditional attire, participating in parades or rituals, and enjoying festive foods.
Q: Can tourists participate in Indian holidays?
A: Yes, tourists are welcome to participate in Indian holidays. In fact, many travelers choose to visit India during major festivals to experience the unique cultural traditions and celebrations.
Q: Are all Indian holidays religious in nature?
A: No, while many Indian holidays have a religious significance, not all of them are related to religion. For example, Republic Day and Independence Day are both national holidays that celebrate India's political history and achievements.
Q: Do different states have different holiday calendars?
A: Yes, each Indian state has its own holiday calendar, which includes regional holidays specific to that state. This means that the number and dates of holidays can vary depending on where you are in India.
Q: What are some popular activities during Indian holidays?
A: Popular activities during Indian holidays include visiting temples or other religious sites, participating in cultural events such as dance performances or music festivals, and enjoying traditional foods and sweets.
Q: Is it necessary to dress a certain way during holidays in India?
A: While there is no strict dress code for Indian holidays, it is respectful to dress modestly and avoid clothing that may be considered inappropriate for religious or cultural reasons. It's also common to wear traditional attire, especially during festivals.
Q: Can I travel within India during major holidays?
A: Yes, you can travel within India during holidays, but expect heavy traffic and busy transportation hubs. It's also recommended to book accommodations and transportation well in advance, as they can fill up quickly during peak travel times.
Q: How do Indians typically celebrate religious holidays?
A: The way Indians celebrate religious holidays varies by religion and region, but common practices include visiting temples or other places of worship, performing rituals or prayers, and preparing special meals or sweets to share with family and friends.
Q: Are there any holidays that are specific to certain religions in India?
A: Yes, there are several holidays that are specific to certain religions in India. For example, Eid al-Fitr is a Muslim festival that marks the end of Ramadan, while Makar Sankranti is a Hindu festival that celebrates the winter solstice.
Q: Do all businesses and services close during holidays in India?
A: While most businesses and services do close during national and regional holidays, some essential services such as hospitals, transportation, and emergency services remain open. Some tourist attractions and restaurants may also remain open or operate on limited hours during holidays.
Q: Are there any precautions I should take during major holidays in India?
A: It's always a good idea to be mindful of your surroundings and keep valuables secure during crowded holiday events. You may also want to avoid consuming street food or water from questionable sources, as it can increase the risk of illness.
Q: Is it appropriate to give gifts during Indian holidays?
A: Yes, giving and receiving gifts is a common practice during Indian holidays, especially among family and close friends. Traditional gifts might include sweets, clothes, or household items.
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