There are many festivals and special events in India, but only three of these are full national public holidays. These are-
| 01. | January 26 | Republic Day |
| 02. | August 15 | Independence Day |
| 03. | October 02 | Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday |
In India General Holidays, usually mean Government Holidays or Public Holidays or Compulsory holidays, are holidays that usually observed everywhere like banks, government sector, public sector or private sector, schools etc. There are 17 compulsory holiday including above three national holidays. These holidays are provided by the central Government of India and these are common for all states and union territories of the nation.
Central Government Holidays or Gajetted Holiday calendar 2013
| 1. |
January 25 |
Friday |
Milad-un-Nabi |
| 2. |
January - 26 |
Saturday |
Republic Day |
| 3. |
March - 10 |
Sunday |
Maha Shivratri |
| 4. |
March - 27 |
Wednesday |
Holi |
| 5. |
March - 29 |
Friday |
Good Friday |
| 6. |
April - 24 |
Wednesday |
Mahavir Jayanthi |
| 7. |
May - 25 |
Saturday |
Buddha Purnima |
| 8. |
August 9 |
Friday |
Idu'l Fitr |
| 9. |
August - 15 |
Wednesday |
Independence Day |
| 10. |
August 28 |
Wednesday |
Janmashtami |
| 11. |
September 09 |
Monday |
Ganesh Chaturthi |
| 12. |
October - 02 |
Tuesday |
Mahatma Gandhi Jayanthi |
| 13. |
October - 14 |
Monday |
Vijaya Dashami |
| 14. |
October 16 |
Wednesday |
Idu'l Zuha (Bakrid) |
| 15. |
November - 03 |
Sunday |
Diwali |
| 16. |
November 14 |
Thrusday |
Muharram |
| 17. |
November - 17 |
Sunday |
Guru Nanak Jayanthi |
| 18. |
December - 25 |
Wednesday |
Christmas |
India is a country of 28 states and 7 union territories where different type of religious followers (Hindus, Muslims, Buddies, Christians, Sikhs, etc) lives together. The people of all the states and union territories of India does not celebrate the same and similar festivals. It varies from state to state.
Except 17 compulsory central holidays, a state or a Union Territory can get 2 or 3 more (sometimes up to 6 or 9) additional holidays. Basically, These extra holidays depend on the importance and priority of a festival by the state people. These optional holiday list are selected by the Central Government Employees Welfare Coordination Committee and this list is usually called as Restricted Holidays.
Restricted Holidays or Optional Holiday calendar for 2013
| 1 |
January 13 |
Sunday |
Makar Sankranti |
| 2 |
January 14 |
Monday |
Pongal |
| 3 |
February 15 |
Friday |
Basanta Panchami/ Sarawati Puja |
| 4 |
February 19 |
Tuesday |
Shivaji Jayanti |
| 5 |
February 25 |
Monday |
Guru Ravidas Birthday |
| 6 |
March 07 |
Thursday |
Dayananda Saraswati Jayanti |
| 7 |
March 10 |
Thursday |
Mahashivaratri |
| 8 |
March 26 |
Tuesday |
Holika Dahan |
| 9 |
March 31 |
Sunday |
Easter Sunday |
| 10 |
April 11 |
Thrusday |
Chaitra Sukladi/Ugadi/Cheti |
| 11 |
April 13 |
Saturday |
Baisakhi/Vishu |
| 12 |
April 15 |
Monday |
Poila Baisakh/Bohag Bihu/Mesadi |
| 13 |
April 19 |
Friday |
Ram Navami |
| 14 |
May 9 |
Thrusday |
Guru Rabindra Jayanti |
| 15 |
May 24 |
Friday |
Hazarat Alis Birthday |
| 16 |
July 10 |
Wednesday |
Rath Yatra |
| 17 |
August 02 |
Friday |
Jamat-ul-Vida |
| 18 |
August 20 |
Thuesday |
Raksha Bandhan/Rakhi |
| 19 |
September 16 |
Monday |
Onam |
| 20 |
October 11 |
Friday |
Maha Saptami |
| 21 |
October 12 |
Saturday |
Maha Ashtami |
| 22 |
October 13 |
Sunday |
Maha Navami |
| 23 |
October 18 |
Friday |
Maharshi Valmiki's Birthday |
| 24 |
October 22 |
Tuesday |
Karva Chauth |
| 25 |
November 02 |
Saturday |
Naraka Chaturdasi |
| 26 |
November 03 |
Sunday |
Govardhan Puja |
| 27 |
November 05 |
Thuesday |
Bhai Dhuj/Tika |
| 28 |
November 08 |
Friday |
Pratihar Puja/Chhat Puja |
| 29 |
November 24 |
Sunday |
Guru Teg Bahadur's Martyrdom Day |
| 30 |
December 24 |
Tuesday |
Christmas Eve |
In India Sunday declared as weekend holiday. If any above mention holiday coincide with Sunday then it will not be counted as extra holiday.
