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West Bengal Holiday Calendar 2026: Durga Puja, Public & Commercial Holidays

In West Bengal, public, commercial, and festival holidays are declared under the West Bengal Shops and Establishments Act, 1963, the West Bengal National and Festival Holidays Rules, and notifications published by the Finance Department (Audit Branch), Government of West Bengal under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

West Bengal is unique in India for its extensive festive season, led by Durga Puja, alongside prominent regional days like Poila Boishakh (Bengali New Year) and Rabindra Jayanti.

West Bengal Statutory Mandate

Under Section 5 of the West Bengal Shops and Establishments Act, 1963, employees are entitled to statutory paid holidays including the 3 National Holidays, May Day, and regional festival days, with common industry rosters granting between 10 and 14 paid holidays annually.

📅 Official West Bengal Statutory Holiday Calendar 2026​

DateDayHoliday / OccasionClassificationMandatory for Private Sector?
01-01-2026ThursdayNew Year's DayGazette / RegionalYes (Standard Corporate Off)
12-01-2026MondaySwami Vivekananda JayantiState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Priority)
23-01-2026FridayNetaji Subhas Chandra Bose JayantiState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Priority)
26-01-2026MondayRepublic DayNational HolidayYes (Mandatory Paid Off)
03-03-2026TuesdayDoljatra (Holi)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (High State Priority)
04-03-2026WednesdayHoli (Second Day)Gazette / RegionalOptional / Corporate Choice
21-03-2026SaturdayId-ul-Fitr (Ramzan)Gazette / NI ActYes
01-04-2026WednesdayAnnual Bank Account ClosingNI Act (Sec 25)Banks Only
03-04-2026FridayGood FridayGazette / NI ActYes (Standard Corporate Off)
14-04-2026TuesdayDr. B.R. Ambedkar JayantiState & National GazetteYes
15-04-2026WednesdayBengali New Year's Day (Poila Boishakh)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Mandate)
01-05-2026FridayMay DayState Mandatory HolidayYes (Statutory Mandate)
02-05-2026SaturdayBuddha PurnimaGazette / NI ActOptional
09-05-2026SaturdayRabindranath Tagore Jayanti (Rabindra Jayanti)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major Cultural Mandate)
27-05-2026WednesdayBakrid (Id-uz-Zoha)Gazette / NI ActYes
25-06-2026ThursdayMuharramGazette / NI ActOptional / Floating
15-08-2026SaturdayIndependence DayNational HolidayYes (Mandatory Paid Off)
28-08-2026FridayFateha-Dwaz-DahamGazette / NI ActOptional
02-10-2026FridayMahatma Gandhi JayantiNational HolidayYes (Mandatory Paid Off)
17-10-2026SaturdayDurga Puja - Maha SaptamiState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Festive Block)
18-10-2026SundayDurga Puja - Maha AshtamiState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Sunday Overlap)
19-10-2026MondayDurga Puja - Maha NabamiState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Festive Block)
20-10-2026TuesdayDurga Puja - Vijaya DashamiState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major State Festive Block)
25-10-2026SundayLakshmi PujaState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Sunday Overlap
08-11-2026SundayKali Puja / DiwaliGazette / NI ActYes (Sunday Overlap)
10-11-2026TuesdayBhatridwitiya (Bhai Dooj)State Gazetted / RegionalYes
15-11-2026SundayChhath PujaState Gazetted / RegionalOptional
24-11-2026TuesdayGuru Nanak JayantiGazette / NI ActOptional
25-12-2026FridayChristmas DayGazette / NI ActYes (Standard Corporate Off)

📋 Employer Compliance Checklist for West Bengal​

  1. Durga Puja Festival Roster: Corporate employers and manufacturing units in West Bengal typically recognize an extended 3 to 4 day paid holiday block during Durga Puja (from Saptami/Ashtami through Vijaya Dashami).
  2. Statutory Display: Employers must display the annual approved holiday schedule on internal bulletin boards and digital platforms prior to January 1.
  3. Holiday Work Compensation: In retail establishments and continuous operations, work performed on a gazetted holiday must be remunerated at double ordinary wages or compensated with an alternative paid off-day.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)​

1. Are private corporate companies in Kolkata required to give leave during Durga Puja?​

Yes. It is virtually universal across private and public sectors in West Bengal to observe Durga Puja (Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Nabami, and Vijaya Dashami) as mandatory paid holidays.

2. Is Netaji Jayanti (January 23rd) a statutory holiday in West Bengal?​

Yes. January 23rd marks Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti (Parakram Diwas) and is an official statutory gazetted holiday in West Bengal.