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Bihar Holiday Calendar 2026: Chhath Puja, Statutory, Public & Commercial Holidays

In Bihar, public, commercial, and industrial workplace holidays are regulated under the Bihar Shops and Establishments Act, 1953, the Factories Act, 1948, and annual notifications issued by the General Administration Department, Government of Bihar under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

Enterprises in Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, and industrial belts must structure their annual holiday rosters around Bihar's signature festivals—foremost among them Chhath Puja and Bihar Diwas.

Bihar Statutory Quota

Under the Bihar Shops and Establishments framework, employers must provide a minimum of 8 paid holidays per year, including the 3 National Holidays and approved state festival closures.

📅 Official Bihar Statutory Holiday Calendar 2026​

DateDayHoliday / OccasionClassificationMandatory for Private Sector?
14-01-2026WednesdayMakar SankrantiGazette / RegionalYes (High Regional Priority)
26-01-2026MondayRepublic DayNational HolidayYes (Mandatory Paid Off)
18-02-2026WednesdayMaha ShivratriGazette / NI ActOptional
03-03-2026TuesdayHoliGazette / NI ActYes (Major State Priority)
04-03-2026WednesdayHoli (Second Day)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Priority)
21-03-2026SaturdayId-ul-Fitr (Ramzan)Gazette / NI ActYes
22-03-2026SundayBihar Diwas (Bihar State Day)State Foundation DayYes (Sunday Overlap)
27-03-2026FridayRam NavamiGazette / NI ActOptional
31-03-2026TuesdayMahavir JayantiGazette / NI ActYes (High State Priority)
01-04-2026WednesdayAnnual Bank Account ClosingNI Act (Sec 25)Banks Only
03-04-2026FridayGood FridayGazette / NI ActYes (Corporate Off)
14-04-2026TuesdayDr. B.R. Ambedkar JayantiState & National GazetteYes
01-05-2026FridayMay Day / Labour DayGazette / RegionalYes (Industrial Priority)
02-05-2026SaturdayBuddha PurnimaState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major Cultural Priority)
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
02-10-2026FridayMahatma Gandhi JayantiNational HolidayYes (Mandatory Paid Off)
19-10-2026MondayDurga Puja (Maha Navami)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (High State Priority)
20-10-2026TuesdayDussehra (Vijaya Dashami)Gazette / NI ActYes (Major State Priority)
08-11-2026SundayDiwaliGazette / NI ActYes (Sunday Overlap)
09-11-2026MondayGovardhan PoojaState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Regional
10-11-2026TuesdayBhai DoojState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Regional
14-11-2026SaturdayChhath Puja (Kharna)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Festival)
15-11-2026SundayChhath Puja (Evening Arghya - Sandhya Arghya)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Festival)
16-11-2026MondayChhath Puja (Morning Arghya - Usha Arghya)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Festival)
24-11-2026TuesdayGuru Nanak JayantiGazette / NI ActOptional
25-12-2026FridayChristmasGazette / NI ActYes (Corporate Off)

📋 Employer Compliance Checklist for Bihar​

  1. Annual Display of Holidays: Post the approved holiday calendar on employee notice boards and digital portals before 1st January.
  2. Weekly Close Day Alignment: Under Section 7 of the Bihar Shops and Establishments Act, every establishment must observe one full day of weekly closure.
  3. Double Wages or Comp-Off: Employees required to work on a declared festival holiday must be compensated with double wages or given a paid compensatory off.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)​

1. Is Chhath Puja a multi-day paid holiday in Bihar?​

Yes. Chhath Puja is the most revered religious and cultural festival in Bihar. The state government typically gazettes an extended multi-day holiday encompassing the Sandhya Arghya and Pratah/Usha Arghya.

2. Is Bihar Diwas (March 22nd) a mandatory state holiday?​

Yes. 22nd March commemorates the creation of Bihar state (separated from Bengal Presidency in 1912) and is celebrated as an official public holiday across all administrative and educational institutions.