Just like the rest of the world, India too is a country that enjoys its holidays and here is the India Bank Holidays 2021 list for you. India is truly a diverse country with various religious beliefs, cultures and traditions. This has prompted numerous festivals to become a part of Indian holidays. Each and every festival has a history and is celebrated as the history dictates it to be.
The hectic work schedule leaves little to no time for family. Spending some relaxing or quality time with loved ones is a primary aim of these holidays. A handy list of holidays can help you plan out some small getaway trips and vacations. These enable people to find some time to enjoy with their loved ones, including family members and friends. 123NewYear is well aware of that, so we present for you a list of holidays. India might have innumerable festivals, but not all of them are public holidays.
Again, it has to be borne in mind that not all Public Holidays are Bank Holidays. In India, the Negotiable Instruments (NI) Act, 1881, is what helps the Central and the State (or Union Territory) Governments to formulate the Bank Holidays.
Here is the list of holidays for the year 2021, which are public holidays.
National and Local holidays
New Year's Day
| Friday - 1st of January 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
New Year’s Day is celebrated many countries such as in India on the January 1 in the Gregorian calendar.
Lohri
| Wednesday - 13th of January 2021 | National holiday |
All states
Lohri is a restricted holiday in India
Pongal
| Thursday - 14th of January 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Many southern states in India, particularly Tamil Nadu, celebrate Pongal as a thanksgiving for the good harvest season in mid-January every year.
Makar Sankranti
| Thursday - 14th of January 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Makar Sankranti is a restricted holiday in India
Republic Day
| Tuesday - 26th of January 2021 | National holiday |
All states
India's Republic Day marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Indian constitution. It is an annual gazetted holiday in India on January 26.
Republic Day in India is a standout amongst the most praised occasions amid the year. This unique occasion denotes the day that the Constitution of India became effective in India. 26th of January was the day in the year 1950, when India formally perceived itself as a free country. Every year India has a three-day festivity remembering Republic Day. A larger part of the festivals are celebrated in New Delhi the nation’s capital, however each of the states inside India likewise has their own particular festivals. Republic Day Parade held in on the Rajpath (stately roadway) in New Delhi before the President of India, is truly a spectacle that Indians look forward to witnessing each year. Each state in India has started to hold comparable parades to recognize this occasion.
Vasant Panchami
| Tuesday - 16th of February 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Vasant Panchami, or India’s spring festival, is a Hindu event that includes special rituals and highlights the start of spring.
Shivaji Jayanti
| Friday - 19th of February 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Shivaji Jayanti is a restricted holiday in India
Hazarat Ali's Birthday
| Friday - 26th of February 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Hazarat Ali's Birthday is a restricted holiday in India
Guru Ravidas Jayanti
| Saturday - 27th of February 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Guru Ravidas Jayanti is a restricted holiday in India
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti
| Monday - 8th of March 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti is a restricted holiday in India
Maha Shivaratri/Shivaratri
| Thursday - 11th of March 2021 | National holiday |
All states
Maha Shivaratri is an annual Hindu festival that is dedicated to Lord Shiva on the 13th or 14th day of the Hindu month of Maagha or Phalguna.
Holika Dahana
| Sunday - 28th of March 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Holika Dahana is a restricted holiday in India
Holi
| Monday - 29th of March 2021 | National holiday |
All states
Holi is a spring festival of colors celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and others. It celebrates the triumph of good over evil and the upcoming season of spring. The festival can last up to sixteen days.
Holi is otherwise called the Festival of Colors and is one of India’s most spectacular and most popular festivities. This vast celebration is praised in numerous urban areas and rustic regions all through India. The Holi celebration generally commends the triumph of good over evil. It is related with numerous legends, including the narrative of Holika. This festival likewise respects Lord Krishna, a rebirth of Lord Vishnu. Notwithstanding its religious viewpoints, Holi additionally praises the finish of winter and the beginning of spring. Celebrations include playing with colors, thus Holi is otherwise called the Festival of Colors. The occasion is formally celebrated on the full moon day in the Phalguna month; however, it is seen on various dates in a few regions of India.
Good Friday
| Friday - 2nd of April 2021 | National holiday |
All states
Many Christians commemorate Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and death on Good Friday. It is a gazetted holiday in India.
Also known as Easter Friday or Black Friday, this day commemorates the event of Jesus Christ being crucified. It is a revered occasion in the nation and Christians go to extraordinary church benefits or implore on this day. Some of them hold a fast or abstain from consuming meat as it is a day of grieving. Parades and open plays to depict the life of Jesus Christ are likewise held. It marks the beginning of Easter weekend and is the last Friday before Easter Sunday.
Easter Day
| Sunday - 4th of April 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Easter Sunday commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection, according to Christian belief.
Chaitra Sukhladi
| Tuesday - 13th of April 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Chaitra Sukhladi is a restricted holiday in India
Vaisakhi
| Wednesday - 14th of April 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Vaisakhi, also known as Baisakhi, is a harvest celebration on either April 13 or April 14 in the Gregorian calendar. It is one of India’s most notable celebrations.
Mesadi
| Wednesday - 14th of April 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Mesadi is a restricted holiday in India
Bahag Bihu/Vaisakhadi
| Thursday - 15th of April 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Bahag Bihu/Vaisakhadi is a restricted holiday in India
Rama Navami
| Wednesday - 21st of April 2021 | National holiday |
All states
Rama Navami is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Rama, the first son of King Dasaratha of Ayodhya.
Lord Rama is accepted to have been an incarnation of the god Vishnu. The occasion is additionally celebrated in Nepal and by Hindus around the globe. The occasion can likewise be called “Vaishnava” after the Hindu group of that name, which reveres Vishnu in the majority of his diverse appearances and structures. In a few sections of India, festivities begin nine days before Ram Navami and come full circle in it, and the lead up is additionally thought to be a “celebration of spring,” which touches base in India around that season. They will likewise offer Rama blossoms and fruits to temples. There will be parades of Lord Rama’s statues and many more festivities. Some additionally formally bathe small Lord Rama icons in water, as one would do to an infant. In southern India, Ram Navami is additionally accepted to be the day Rama wedded Mata Sita, and parades will include both of their pictures.
Mahavir Jayanti
| Sunday - 25th of April 2021 | National holiday |
All states
Mahavir Jayanti is a gazetted holiday in India
Lord Mahavir was born into a noble family of Bihar, but renounced his grand life to walk on the path of salvation. He was the founder of the religion Jainism. Date of this event does not fall on the same date of the Gregorian calendar; it might vary from year to year. Amid this occasion, individuals praise the lessons of Mahavir. It is a day of humility and Jains celebrate this day with a lot of happiness. Celebrations include parades with a symbol of Lord Mahavir. People regularly wash statues of Mahavir with water mixed with fragrant oils. To show their modest way of living, many Jains offer money, food, and other donations to temples amid Mahavir Jayanti.
Jamat Ul-Vida
| Friday - 7th of May 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Jamat Ul-Vida is a restricted holiday in India
Birthday of Ravindranath
| Sunday - 9th of May 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Birthday of Ravindranath is a restricted holiday in India
Ramzan Id/Eid-ul-Fitar
| Friday - 14th of May 2021 | National holiday |
All states
Eid-al-Fitr is a holiday to mark the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, during which Muslims fast during the hours of daylight.
Buddha Purnima/Vesak
| Wednesday - 26th of May 2021 | National holiday |
All states
Vesak, also known as Buddha Purnima, celebrates of Gautama Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death.
Rath Yatra
| Monday - 12th of July 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Rath Yatra is a restricted holiday in India
Bakr Id/Eid ul-Adha
| Wednesday - 21st of July 2021 | National holiday |
All states
Many Muslims in India celebrate Eid al-Adha (Id-ul-Zuha or Bakr-Id), which is on the 10th to 13th days of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijja.
Independence Day
| Sunday - 15th of August 2021 | National holiday |
All states
India's Independence Day is an annual gazetted holiday on August 15 to commemorate the day India became an independent nation.
India turned into a free nation on 15 August 1947 from British control and held its first Independence Day festivities in the year 1948. On the fifteenth, the Prime Minister hoists the national flag of India in Delhi at the Red Fort. Amid the service, a 21-firearm salute is offered, followed by the Indian national anthem, ‘Jana Gana Mana’. It is a unique day where tributes are made to the individuals who gave their lives to battle for their independence from the British. In the weeks paving the way to 15 August, and particularly on the day, the national flag in raised on flag posts in schools, workplaces, structures and other places of importance. Youngsters and grown-ups wherever convey or wear the flag of India, statement of faith and religion over our nation observes Independence Day on this national occasion. In India, the day of 15 August is a gladly energetic day of festivities, kite flying, dining experiences, parades and merriments.
Parsi New Year
| Monday - 16th of August 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Parsi New Year is a restricted holiday in India
Muharram/Ashura
| Thursday - 19th of August 2021 | National holiday |
All states
Muharram, or the Islamic New Year, is a public holiday in India.
Onam
| Saturday - 21st of August 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Onam is a restricted holiday in India
Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi)
| Sunday - 22nd of August 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival that is celebrated on the full moon of the Hindu month of Shravana (Shravan Poornima). The day is also sometimes referred to as Brother and Sister Day because it honors the relationship between brother and sister.
Janmashtami
| Monday - 30th of August 2021 | National holiday |
All states
Krishna Janmashtami is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth incarnation of the god Vishnu. It is celebrated on the eighth day of the Hindu month of Bhadrava (Bhadrapada), which is usually in August or September.
Janmashtami (Smarta)
| Monday - 30th of August 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Janmashtami (Smarta) is a restricted holiday in India
Ganesh Chaturthi/Vinayaka Chaturthi
| Friday - 10th of September 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Ganesh Chaturthi is the great Ganesha festival that celebrates the birthday of Lord Ganesha during the Hindu Month of Bhadra, which usually falls between mid-August and mid-September. It is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi and can last up to 10 days.
Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti
| Saturday - 2nd of October 2021 | National holiday |
All states
Mahatma Gandhi's birthday is an annual gazetted holiday in India on October 2.
Gandhi’s life is worshipped in India and around the globe for instance of how to live basically and devotedly. On his birthday, October the second, individuals crosswise over India assemble to watch Gandhi Jayanti. They offer blooms on pictures and statues of his resemblance, sing tunes, supplicate, and light candles. All administration workplaces, banks, post workplaces, and schools are shut for this occasion.
Maha Saptami
| Tuesday - 12th of October 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Maha Saptami is a restricted holiday in India
Maha Ashtami
| Wednesday - 13th of October 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Maha Ashtami is a restricted holiday in India
Maha Navami
| Thursday - 14th of October 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Maha Navami is a restricted holiday in India
Dussehra
| Friday - 15th of October 2021 | National holiday |
All states
Dussehra, also known as Vijaya Dashami, is an Indian festival that celebrates good forces over evil forces. It spans for 10 days and is celebrated in varied traditions across India.
Otherwise called Vijaya Dashami, it is a Hindu celebration, which is celebrated on the tenth of the long stretch of Ashvin as indicated by the Hindu schedule. It lectures the triumph of good forces over the malevolent forces and Lord Rama is believed to have killed Ravana, the devil ruler of Lanka, on this day. The first 9 days of Dussehra are mutually known as ‘Navratri’ and is committed to the devotion of Ma Shakti. On the occasion of Vijaya Dashami, Ramayana plays known as Ramleela is organized alongside burning of immense effigies of the Demon king Ravana known as ‘Dasha Hara’ in Northern India. While in South India, Ma Durga is revered alongside presentations of brilliant dolls known as Golu. Devi Durga Idol is revered for five days in Bengal and then immersed in a stream or lake on the occasion of Dussehra.
Milad un-Nabi/Id-e-Milad
| Tuesday - 19th of October 2021 | National holiday |
All states
Milad un-Nabi is a gazetted holiday in India and marks the Prophet Muhammad's birthday.
Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti
| Wednesday - 20th of October 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti is a restricted holiday in India
Karaka Chaturthi (Karva Chauth)
| Sunday - 24th of October 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Karwa Chauth is an annual one-day festival that honors the Hindu god Shiva and goddess Parvati. It is celebrated by all married Hindu women on the fourth day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Kartik, which is usually in October.
Naraka Chaturdasi
| Thursday - 4th of November 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Naraka Chaturdasi is a restricted holiday in India
Diwali/Deepavali
| Thursday - 4th of November 2021 | National holiday |
All states
Diwali is a festival of physical and spiritual light celebrated in October or November each year.
Govardhan Puja
| Friday - 5th of November 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Govardhan Puja is a restricted holiday in India
Bhai Duj
| Saturday - 6th of November 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Bhai Duj is a Hindu festival that celebrates the relationship between a brother and a sister on the second day after the new moon in the Hindu month of Kartika.
Chhat Puja (Pratihar Sashthi/Surya Sashthi)
| Wednesday - 10th of November 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Chhat Puja (Pratihar Sashthi/Surya Sashthi) is a restricted holiday in India
Guru Nanak Jayanti
| Friday - 19th of November 2021 | National holiday |
All states
Guru Nanak Jayanti is a gazetted holiday in India
Guru Tegh Bahadur's Martyrdom Day
| Wednesday - 24th of November 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Guru Tegh Bahadur's Martyrdom Day is a restricted holiday in India
Christmas Eve
| Friday - 24th of December 2021 | Optional holiday |
All states
Christmas Eve is the day before Christmas Day and falls on December 24 in the Gregorian calendar.
Christmas
| Saturday - 25th of December 2021 | National holiday |
All states
Many Christians celebrate Christmas Day, which is a gazetted holiday in India, on December 25 each year.
Christmas is the celebration that denotes Jesus Christ’s birthday and is auspicious event everywhere throughout the globe. India is no exemption as Christians go to chapels to attend special services held on this day and plan extraordinary Christmas treats for this huge day. Shopping centers are adorned in shades of red, white and green. Christmas trees are also set up in homes and various other public places. Pastry shops get loaded with Christmas cakes and treats. Individuals additionally go shopping amid this opportunity to purchase presents for their precious ones.
Other important days
Guru Govind Singh Jayanti
| Wednesday - 20th of January 2021 | Observance |
All states
Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti is the Sikh annual celebration that occurs in countries such as India around December or January in the Gregorian calendar.
Chinese New Year
| Friday - 12th of February 2021 | Observance |
All states
Chinese New year is an annual global celebration in many countries including India.
Valentine's Day
| Sunday - 14th of February 2021 | Observance |
All states
Valentine’s Day is celebrated in many places worldwide, including in India, on February 14 each year.
March Equinox
| Saturday - 20th of March 2021 | Season |
All states
March Equinox in India (New Delhi)
First day of Passover
| Sunday - 28th of March 2021 | Observance |
All states
During Passover, the Jewish people remember the liberation of the Israelites from slavery, their exodus from Egypt, and that their first-born children were spared during the 10th plague, as told in the Haggadah.
Maundy Thursday
| Thursday - 1st of April 2021 | Observance |
All states
Maundy Thursday is a Christian observance on the Thursday during Holy Week. It is the day before Good Friday.
Ambedkar Jayanti
| Wednesday - 14th of April 2021 | Observance |
All states
Ambedkar Jayanti is a observance in India
May Day
| Saturday - 1st of May 2021 | Observance |
All states
Labor Day, or May Day, is a day off for workers in many countries around the world.
In India, the primary Labor Day, also known as May Day, was observed in the year 1923 in the city of Chennai. Today around India, associations and exchange unions organize events, youngsters participate in challenges so they can comprehend the significance of decency for laborers, and political pioneers make talks. This day employees usually get a day off from work to honor memories of the many people who fought for the rights of the worker class many years ago.
Mother's Day
| Sunday - 9th of May 2021 | Observance |
All states
Mother’s Day celebrates the achievements and efforts of mothers and mother figures.
Ramzan Id/Eid-ul-Fitar
| Friday - 14th of May 2021 | Muslim |
All states
One day of Eid-ul-Fitar, which marks the end of Ramadan, is a gazetted holiday in India.
Father's Day
| Sunday - 20th of June 2021 | Observance |
All states
Father’s Day celebrates fatherhood and male parenting on different dates worldwide.
June Solstice
| Monday - 21st of June 2021 | Season |
All states
June Solstice in India (New Delhi)
Guru Purnima
| Saturday - 24th of July 2021 | Observance |
All states
Guru Purnima is a festival that honors spiritual Gurus by remembering their life and teachings. It is observed on the full moon day, Purnima, in the Hindu month of Ashadh, which is usually June or July.
Friendship Day
| Sunday - 1st of August 2021 | Observance |
All states
Friendship Day is a observance in India
September Equinox
| Wednesday - 22nd of September 2021 | Season |
All states
September Equinox in India (New Delhi)
Halloween
| Sunday - 31st of October 2021 | Observance |
All states
Halloween is a festive occasion that is celebrated in many countries on October 31 each year.
First Day of Hanukkah
| Monday - 29th of November 2021 | Observance |
All states
Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah or the Festival of Lights, is celebrated for 8 days between the 25th day of the month of Kislev to the second day of Tevet in the Hebrew calendar.
Last day of Hanukkah
| Monday - 6th of December 2021 | Observance |
All states
Hanukkah, also known as Chanukah or the Festival of Lights, is celebrated for eight days between the 25th day of the month of Kislev to the second day of Tevet in the Hebrew calendar.
December Solstice
| Tuesday - 21st of December 2021 | Season |
All states
December Solstice in India (New Delhi)
New Year's Eve
| Friday - 31st of December 2021 | Observance |
All states
New Year’s Eve is the last day of the year, December 31, in the Gregorian calendar.