Skip to main content

Nagaland Holiday Calendar 2026: Hornbill, Moatsu, Sekrenyi, Public & Commercial Holidays

In Nagaland, public, commercial, and industrial workplace holidays are regulated under the Nagaland Shops and Establishments Act, 1986, the Factories Act, 1948, and annual notifications issued by the Home Department (General Administration Branch), Government of Nagaland under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

Enterprises in Kohima, Dimapur (commercial and transport hub), Mokokchung, and Wokha must structure their holiday rosters around distinct tribal festivals across the 16 major Naga tribes—prominently featuring Sekrenyi (Angami), Moatsu (Ao), Tokhu Emong (Lotha), and the Hornbill Festival.

Nagaland Statutory Quota

Under the Nagaland Shops and Establishments framework, employers must provide a minimum of 8 paid holidays per year, including the 3 National Holidays and approved tribal cultural holidays.

📅 Official Nagaland Statutory Holiday Calendar 2026​

DateDayHoliday / OccasionClassificationMandatory for Private Sector?
01-01-2026ThursdayNew Year's DayState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Priority)
26-01-2026MondayRepublic DayNational HolidayYes (Mandatory Paid Off)
25-02-2026WednesdaySekrenyi (Angami Purification Festival)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major Tribal Priority)
01-04-2026WednesdayAnnual Bank Account ClosingNI Act (Sec 25)Banks Only
03-04-2026FridayGood FridayGazette / NI ActYes (Major State Priority)
06-04-2026MondayEaster MondayState Gazetted / RegionalYes (State Mandate)
14-04-2026TuesdayDr. B.R. Ambedkar JayantiState & National GazetteYes
01-05-2026FridayMay DayState Mandatory HolidayYes (Statutory Mandate)
02-05-2026SaturdayMoatsu Mong (Ao Harvest Festival)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major Tribal Priority)
15-08-2026SaturdayIndependence DayNational HolidayYes (Mandatory Paid Off)
02-10-2026FridayMahatma Gandhi JayantiNational HolidayYes (Mandatory Paid Off)
20-10-2026TuesdayDussehraGazette / NI ActOptional / Corporate Choice
07-11-2026SaturdayTokhu Emong (Lotha Post-Harvest Festival)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major Tribal Priority)
08-11-2026SundayDiwaliGazette / NI ActOptional / Sunday Overlap
01-12-2026TuesdayNagaland State Inauguration Day & Hornbill Festival OpeningState Foundation DayYes (Major State Mandate)
24-12-2026ThursdayChristmas EveState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Festive Block)
25-12-2026FridayChristmas DayGazette / NI ActYes (Major State Festive Block)
26-12-2026SaturdayChristmas Celebration (Day 2)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Festive Block)

📋 Employer Compliance Checklist for Nagaland​

  1. Annual Notice of Holidays: Post the approved holiday schedule on workplace notice boards by 1st January.
  2. Weekly Day of Rest: Provide one full day of weekly rest to all workers.
  3. Double Wages or Comp-Off: Employees required to work on an approved holiday must receive double wages (200%), or normal pay plus a paid compensatory off within 30 days.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)​

1. What are Sekrenyi and Moatsu in Nagaland?​

  • Sekrenyi is the premier annual purification festival of the Angami tribe observed in February.
  • Moatsu is the celebration of the Ao tribe in May following the completion of seed sowing. Both are official state gazetted holidays in Nagaland.

2. Is Nagaland State Inauguration Day (December 1st) a public holiday?​

Yes. 1st December marks the formal inauguration of Nagaland as the 16th state of the Indian Union in 1963 and the grand opening of the international Hornbill Festival, observed as a major state holiday.