Skip to main content

Odisha Holiday Calendar 2026: Rath Yatra, Statutory, Public & Commercial Holidays

In Odisha, workplace holidays, industrial leave, and commercial closures are regulated under the Odisha Industrial Establishments (National and Festival Holidays) Act, 1969, the Odisha Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1956, and annual notifications issued by the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Government of Odisha under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

Enterprises across Bhubaneswar (Info City), Cuttack, Rourkela, and mining corridors must structure their annual holiday rosters around the state's cultural celebrations—most prominently Rath Yatra, Utkal Divas, and Raja Parba.

Odisha Statutory Minimum (8 Paid Holidays)

Under Section 3 of the Odisha Industrial Establishments (National and Festival Holidays) Act, 1969: Every employee is entitled to not less than 8 paid holidays per calendar year, including:

  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 agreed upon with employees.

📅 Official Odisha Statutory Holiday Calendar 2026​

DateDayHoliday / OccasionClassificationMandatory for Private Sector?
14-01-2026WednesdayMakar SankrantiState Gazetted / RegionalYes (High Regional Priority)
23-01-2026FridayNetaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti & Veer Surendra Sai JayantiState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Priority)
26-01-2026MondayRepublic DayNational HolidayYes (Mandatory Paid Off)
18-02-2026WednesdayMaha ShivratriGazette / NI ActOptional
03-03-2026TuesdayDola Purnima (Holi)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Festival)
04-03-2026WednesdayHoliGazette / RegionalYes (State Practice)
21-03-2026SaturdayId-ul-FitrGazette / NI ActYes
27-03-2026FridayShree Ram NavamiGazette / NI ActOptional
01-04-2026WednesdayUtkal Divas (Odisha State Day) & Bank ClosingState Foundation Day & NI ActYes (Major State Mandate)
03-04-2026FridayGood FridayGazette / NI ActYes (Corporate Off)
14-04-2026TuesdayMaha Vishuva Sankranti / Odia New Year & Dr. Ambedkar JayantiState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Festival)
01-05-2026FridayMay DayState Mandatory HolidayYes (Statutory Mandate)
02-05-2026SaturdayBuddha PurnimaGazette / NI ActOptional
27-05-2026WednesdayBakrid (Id-ul-Zuha)Gazette / NI ActYes
14-06-2026SundayRaja Sankranti (Pahili Raja / Raja Parba)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Sunday Overlap)
15-06-2026MondayRaja Parba (Raja Sankranti Day 2)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major Cultural Mandate)
25-06-2026ThursdayMuharramGazette / NI ActOptional / Floating
16-07-2026ThursdayRatha Yatra (Car Festival of Lord Jagannath)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Festive Priority)
15-08-2026SaturdayIndependence DayNational HolidayYes (Mandatory Paid Off)
04-09-2026FridayJanmashtamiGazette / NI ActOptional
16-09-2026WednesdayNuakhai (Western Odisha Harvest Festival)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major Cultural Priority)
02-10-2026FridayMahatma Gandhi JayantiNational HolidayYes (Mandatory Paid Off)
19-10-2026MondayMaha NavamiState Gazetted / RegionalYes (High State Priority)
20-10-2026TuesdayVijaya Dashami (Dussehra)Gazette / NI ActYes (Major State Priority)
25-10-2026SundayKumar PurnimaState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Sunday Overlap
08-11-2026SundayDiwali / Kali PujaGazette / NI ActYes (Sunday Overlap)
24-11-2026TuesdayRasa Purnima / Guru Nanak JayantiState Gazetted / RegionalYes (High State Priority)
25-12-2026FridayChristmasGazette / NI ActYes (Corporate Off)

📋 Employer Compliance Checklist for Odisha​

  1. Submission of Statement of Proposed Holidays: Employers must submit proposed festival holidays to the local Labour Officer before 31st December.
  2. Display of Notice: Exhibit the approved holiday list on the establishment notice board by 1st January.
  3. Double Wages or Comp-Off: Provide double the ordinary daily wages (200%), or regular pay plus a paid substitute holiday within 30 days to employees who work on a declared holiday.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)​

1. Is Puri Rath Yatra an official paid public holiday in Odisha?​

Yes. The world-renowned Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is a primary state gazetted holiday observed by schools, universities, banks, and private enterprises across Odisha.

2. What is Nuakhai and is it recognized as a holiday?​

Nuakhai is the premier agrarian festival of Western Odisha celebrating the season's new harvest. The Government of Odisha officially gazettes Nuakhai as a public holiday.