Manipur Holiday Calendar 2026: Sajibu Cheiraoba, Yaoshang, Public & Commercial Holidays
In Manipur, public, commercial, and industrial workplace holidays are regulated under the Manipur Shops and Establishments Act, 1972, the Factories Act, 1948, and annual notifications issued by the General Administration Department (GAD), Government of Manipur under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
Enterprises in Imphal, Churachandpur, and Thoubal must structure their annual holiday schedules around the state's cultural celebrations—foremost among them Yaoshang, Sajibu Cheiraoba, Ningol Chakkouba, and the tribal harvest festival of Chavang Kut.
Under the Manipur Shops and Establishments Act, employers must provide a minimum of 8 paid holidays per year, including the 3 National Holidays and major regional festive days.
📅 Official Manipur Statutory Holiday Calendar 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday / Occasion | Classification | Mandatory for Private Sector? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01-01-2026 | Thursday | New Year's Day | Gazette / Regional | Yes (Standard Off) |
| 26-01-2026 | Monday | Republic Day | National Holiday | Yes (Mandatory Paid Off) |
| 15-02-2026 | Sunday | Lui-Ngai-Ni (Naga Seed Sowing Festival) | State Gazetted / Regional | Yes (Sunday Overlap) |
| 03-03-2026 | Tuesday | Yaoshang (Day 1 - Manipur Holi) | State Gazetted / Regional | Yes (Major State Festive Block) |
| 04-03-2026 | Wednesday | Yaoshang (Day 2) | State Gazetted / Regional | Yes (Major State Festive Block) |
| 19-03-2026 | Thursday | Sajibu Nongma Panba (Cheiraoba - Meitei New Year) | State Gazetted / Regional | Yes (Major State Festival) |
| 21-03-2026 | Saturday | Id-ul-Fitr (Ramzan) | Gazette / NI Act | Yes |
| 01-04-2026 | Wednesday | Annual Bank Account Closing | NI Act (Sec 25) | Banks Only |
| 03-04-2026 | Friday | Good Friday | Gazette / NI Act | Yes (Corporate Off) |
| 14-04-2026 | Tuesday | Cheiraoba / Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti | State & National Gazette | Yes |
| 01-05-2026 | Friday | May Day | State Mandatory Holiday | Yes (Statutory Mandate) |
| 27-05-2026 | Wednesday | Bakrid (Id-ul-Zuha) | Gazette / NI Act | Yes |
| 25-06-2026 | Thursday | Muharram | Gazette / NI Act | Optional / Floating |
| 13-08-2026 | Thursday | Patriots' Day (Bir Tikendrajit Martyrdom) | State Gazetted / Regional | Yes (Major State Mandate) |
| 15-08-2026 | Saturday | Independence Day | National Holiday | Yes (Mandatory Paid Off) |
| 04-09-2026 | Friday | Krishna Janmashtami | State Gazetted / Regional | Yes |
| 02-10-2026 | Friday | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti | National Holiday | Yes (Mandatory Paid Off) |
| 20-10-2026 | Tuesday | Dussehra (Kwak Jatra) | Gazette / NI Act | Yes |
| 01-11-2026 | Sunday | Chavang Kut (Kuki-Chin-Mizo Autumn Harvest Festival) | State Gazetted / Regional | Yes (Sunday Overlap) |
| 08-11-2026 | Sunday | Diwali | Gazette / NI Act | Yes (Sunday Overlap) |
| 11-11-2026 | Wednesday | Ningol Chakkouba (Festival of Married Daughters) | State Gazetted / Regional | Yes (Major Cultural Mandate) |
| 25-12-2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Gazette / NI Act | Yes (Major State Priority) |
📋 Employer Compliance Checklist for Manipur
- Annual Notice of Holidays: Display the approved holiday calendar on workplace notice boards by 1st January.
- Weekly Day of Rest: Provide one full day of weekly rest to all employees.
- Double Wages or Comp-Off: Provide double wages (200%), or regular pay plus a paid compensatory off within 30 days to employees who work on an official holiday.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is Yaoshang in Manipur?
Yaoshang is Manipur's premier festival celebrated for five days in spring concurrently with Holi, featuring traditional Thabal Chongba folk dances and community sports tournaments. The first two days are official public holidays.
2. What is Ningol Chakkouba?
Ningol Chakkouba is a major festival strengthening familial ties where married daughters (Ningol) and their children are invited to their maternal homes for a grand feast (Chakkouba) and blessings. It is an official public holiday across Manipur.