Public Holidays and Festivals in India 2018
There are many festivals and special events in India, but only three of these are full national public holidays. These are-
Gazetted Holidays list of India, 2018
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 Gazetted Holiday calendar 2018
(Birthday of Prophet Muhammad)
Source: https://india.gov.in/calendar/calendar.php
Restricted Holiday Calendar of India, 2018
India is a country of 29 states and 7 union territories where different type of religious followers (Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Sikhs, Jain and others) lives together with a vast cultural heritages. They celebrate different types of festivals and cultural activities throughout the years, and which are varies from state to state.
Except this 17 compulsory central holidays (Gazetted Holidays), a state or Union Territory can get 2 or 3 more (sometimes up to 6 to 9) additional holidays. Basically, these extra holidays depend on the importance and priority of a festival by the state people. These optional holiday lists 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 2018
Hazarat Ali's Birthday
Source: https://india.gov.in/calendar/calendar.php
In India Sunday declared as weekend holiday. If any above mention holiday coincide with Sunday then it will not be counted as extra holiday.
All the above festivals are commonly used for central government, state government and others sectors office holidays. In addition, there are numerous festivals, events and fairs which are also observed in some states and localities as holidays, the dates of which change from year to year.
Time and Date mentioned on the above lists for Muslim festivals are based on the latest known dates and may vary according to the local sightings of the first-day moon.