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Assam Holiday Calendar 2026: Bihu, Statutory, Public & Commercial Holidays

In Assam, public, commercial, and industrial workplace holidays are regulated under the Assam Industrial Establishments (National and Festival Holidays) Act, 1974, the Assam Shops and Establishments Act, 1971, and annual notifications issued by the General Administration Department (GAD), Government of Assam under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

Enterprises in Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Silchar, Jorhat, and tea plantation corridors must structure their annual leave schedules around the primary regional cultural celebrations—most prominently the three Bihu festive blocks.

Assam Statutory Minimum (8 Paid Holidays)

Under Section 3 of the Assam Industrial Establishments (National and Festival Holidays) Act, 1974: Every employee is entitled to not less than 8 paid holidays per calendar year, which must include:

  1. Republic Day (26 January)
  2. May Day (1 May)
  3. Independence Day (15 August)
  4. Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti (2 October)
  5. 4 Additional Festival Holidays determined in consultation with trade unions or workers.

📅 Official Assam Statutory Holiday Calendar 2026​

DateDayHoliday / OccasionClassificationMandatory for Private Sector?
14-01-2026WednesdayMagh Bihu / Bhogali BihuState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Festive Block)
15-01-2026ThursdayMagh Bihu (Day 2)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Festive Block)
23-01-2026FridayNetaji Subhas Chandra Bose JayantiState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Regional
26-01-2026MondayRepublic DayNational HolidayYes (Mandatory Paid Off)
31-01-2026SaturdayMe-Dam-Me-PhiState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Assam State Mandate)
18-02-2026WednesdayMaha ShivratriGazette / NI ActOptional
03-03-2026TuesdayDol Jatra (Holi)Gazette / NI ActYes (State Priority)
21-03-2026SaturdayId-ul-Fitr (Ramzan)Gazette / NI ActYes
01-04-2026WednesdayAnnual Bank Account ClosingNI Act (Sec 25)Banks Only
03-04-2026FridayGood FridayGazette / NI ActYes (Corporate Off)
14-04-2026TuesdayBohag Bihu / Rongali Bihu (Day 1) & Dr. Ambedkar JayantiState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Festive Block)
15-04-2026WednesdayBohag Bihu (Day 2)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Festive Block)
16-04-2026ThursdayBohag Bihu (Day 3)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Festive Block)
01-05-2026FridayMay DayState Mandatory HolidayYes (Statutory Mandate)
02-05-2026SaturdayBuddha PurnimaGazette / NI ActOptional
27-05-2026WednesdayBakrid (Id-ul-Zuha)Gazette / NI ActYes
25-06-2026ThursdayMuharramGazette / NI ActOptional / Floating
15-08-2026SaturdayIndependence DayNational HolidayYes (Mandatory Paid Off)
04-09-2026FridayJanmashtamiGazette / NI ActOptional
14-09-2026MondayTithi of Srimanta SankardevaState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major Cultural Mandate)
02-10-2026FridayMahatma Gandhi JayantiNational HolidayYes (Mandatory Paid Off)
18-10-2026SundayDurga Puja (Maha Ashtami) & Kati BihuState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Sunday Overlap)
19-10-2026MondayDurga Puja (Maha Nabami)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (High State Priority)
20-10-2026TuesdayVijaya DashamiState Gazetted / RegionalYes (High State Priority)
08-11-2026SundayKali Puja / DiwaliGazette / NI ActYes (Sunday Overlap)
24-11-2026TuesdayGuru Nanak JayantiGazette / NI ActOptional
02-12-2026WednesdayAsom Divas (Su-Ka-Pha Divas)State Foundation DayYes (Assam State Mandate)
25-12-2026FridayChristmasGazette / NI ActYes (Corporate Off)

📋 Employer Compliance Checklist for Assam​

  1. Submission of Form I (Notice of Proposed Holidays): Employers must submit the statement of proposed festival holidays to the local Labour Officer before 31st December.
  2. Display of Notice (Form II): Exhibit the approved holiday list on the establishment notice board by 1st January.
  3. Double Wages or Substitute Off: Employees required to work on a declared holiday must receive twice the ordinary rate of wages (200%), or normal pay plus a paid compensatory off within 30 days.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)​

1. Are Magh Bihu and Bohag Bihu compulsory paid holidays in Assam?​

Yes. Both Magh Bihu (harvest festival in January) and Bohag Bihu (Assamese New Year in April) represent primary cultural festivals statutorily recognized across all commercial, factory, and service sectors.

2. Is Asom Divas (December 2nd) a state public holiday?​

Yes. 2nd December commemorates the arrival of Chaolung Sukaphaa in Assam and is observed as Asom Divas, an official gazetted state holiday.