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Jharkhand Holiday Calendar 2026: Sarhul, Karam, Public & Commercial Holidays

In Jharkhand, public, commercial, and industrial workplace holidays are regulated under the Jharkhand Shops and Establishments Act, 2000, the Factories Act, 1948, and annual notifications issued by the Department of Personnel, Administrative Reforms and Rajbhasha, Government of Jharkhand under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

Enterprises in Ranchi, Jamshedpur (Tata Nagar steel & manufacturing), Dhanbad (mining belt), and Bokaro must structure their annual holiday rosters around the state's tribal and cultural festivals—most prominently Sarhul, Karma Puja, and Bhagwan Birsa Munda Jayanti.

Jharkhand Statutory Quota

Under the Jharkhand Shops and Establishments framework, employers must provide a minimum of 8 paid holidays per year, including the 3 National Holidays and major regional festival days.

📅 Official Jharkhand Statutory Holiday Calendar 2026​

DateDayHoliday / OccasionClassificationMandatory for Private Sector?
14-01-2026WednesdayMakar SankrantiGazette / RegionalYes (High Regional Priority)
23-01-2026FridayNetaji Subhas Chandra Bose JayantiState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Regional
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
24-03-2026TuesdaySarhul (Adivasi Spring Festival)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Festival)
27-03-2026FridayRam NavamiGazette / NI ActYes (Major State Priority)
31-03-2026TuesdayMahavir JayantiGazette / NI ActOptional
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 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
22-09-2026TuesdayKarma PujaState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major Tribal Festival)
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)
10-11-2026TuesdayBhai DoojState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Regional
15-11-2026SundayBirsa Munda Jayanti (Jharkhand Foundation Day) & ChhathState Foundation DayYes (Major State Mandate)
16-11-2026MondayChhath Puja (Morning 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 Jharkhand​

  1. Annual Display: Post the approved holiday list on employee notice boards and digital portals before 1st January.
  2. Weekly Day of Rest: Under the Jharkhand Shops and Establishments Act, every worker must be granted one full day of weekly rest.
  3. Double Wages or Comp-Off: Provide double wages (200%), or normal pay plus a paid compensatory off within 30 days to employees who work on a declared holiday.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)​

1. Is Sarhul an official public holiday in Jharkhand?​

Yes. Sarhul is the main spring festival of the tribal communities (Munda, Oraon, Ho, Santhal) in Jharkhand celebrating nature and Sal trees, and is officially gazetted as a public holiday.

2. Is Jharkhand Foundation Day (November 15th) a mandatory state holiday?​

Yes. 15th November marks both the birth anniversary of legendary tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda and the official foundation of the state of Jharkhand (created in 2000), making it one of the most prominent state holidays.