West Bengal Holiday List 2026

Thursday · 1 January

Marks the first day of the year on the Gregorian calendar, celebrated globally with festivities and new resolutions.

Monday · 12 January

Marks the birth of Swami Vivekananda, who introduced Vedanta to the West and founded the Ramakrishna Mission.

Thursday · 22 January

The preparation day before the worship of Saraswati, kept as a state holiday in West Bengal.

Friday · 23 January

Celebrates the birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose, a prominent and influential leader in the Indian independence movement.

Friday · 23 January

Worship of Saraswati, goddess of learning, on which children are often given their first lessons in writing.

Monday · 26 January

Marks the day in 1950 the Constitution of India came into force, replacing the Government of India Act as the country's governing document.

Sunday · 1 February

Honours Chilarai, the Koch general remembered for the speed of his campaigns, revered across North Bengal and Assam.

Sunday · 1 February

Marks the birth of Ravidas, the fifteenth-century poet-saint of the Bhakti movement.

Wednesday · 4 February

The night of records, kept with prayer and remembrance of the dead in the month before Ramadan.

Saturday · 14 February

Marks the birth of Panchanan Barma, the social reformer and leader of the Rajbanshi community.

Sunday · 15 February

The great night of Shiva, kept with fasting and night-long worship.

Tuesday · 3 March

The Bengali form of Holi, in which idols of Radha and Krishna are carried in procession and coloured powder is offered.

Wednesday · 4 March

The second day of the spring colour festival in West Bengal, following Doljatra.

Tuesday · 17 March

Marks the birth of Harichand Thakur, founder of the Matua religious movement in Bengal.

Friday · 20 March

The eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, kept as a state holiday in West Bengal for preparations.

Saturday · 21 March

Marks the end of Ramadan's month of fasting, celebrated with congregational prayer, charity and family meals.

Thursday · 26 March

Marks the birth of Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, celebrated with readings of the Ramayana.

Tuesday · 31 March

Marks the birth of Mahavira, the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankara of Jainism.

Wednesday · 1 April

The annual closing of bank accounts on 1 April. Banks are shut; government offices and treasuries stay open.

Friday · 3 April

Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, observed by Christians with fasting, prayer and church services.

Saturday · 4 April

The day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, kept by many Christian communities as a day of vigil.

Tuesday · 14 April

Marks the birth of B. R. Ambedkar, principal architect of the Constitution of India and campaigner against caste discrimination.

Wednesday · 15 April

Poila Boishakh, the first day of the Bengali calendar year, marked with new account books, processions and family meals.

Friday · 1 May

Marks the birth of Raghunath Murmu, creator of the Ol Chiki script for the Santali language.

Friday · 1 May

Marks the birth, enlightenment and passing of Gautama Buddha, all traditionally held to have fallen on the same full-moon day.

Friday · 1 May

International Workers' Day, marking the labour movement's campaign for the eight-hour working day.

Saturday · 9 May

Marks the birth of Rabindranath Tagore, poet and composer, the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Tuesday · 26 May

The eve of Bakrid, kept as a state holiday in West Bengal for preparations.

Wednesday · 27 May

The festival of sacrifice, commemorating Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, marked by the sharing of meat.

Friday · 26 June

The first month of the Islamic year; the tenth day, Ashura, is kept in mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Husayn at Karbala.

Tuesday · 30 June

Marks the Santhal rebellion of 1855 against colonial and landlord oppression.

Monday · 13 July

Marks the birth of Bhanubhakta Acharya, the poet who first translated the Ramayana into Nepali.

Thursday · 16 July

The chariot festival of Jagannath, in which the deities are drawn through the streets in great wooden chariots.

Saturday · 15 August

Marks India's independence from British rule on 15 August 1947, observed with flag hoisting and national ceremonies.

Wednesday · 26 August

The death anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad, observed with readings and offerings.

Friday · 28 August

Sisters tie a protective thread on their brothers' wrists in exchange for a promise of protection.

Friday · 4 September

Marks the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu, kept with midnight worship and fasting.

Thursday · 17 September

Worship of Vishwakarma, the divine architect, on which tools and machinery are honoured in workshops and factories.

Friday · 2 October

Birth anniversary of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and advocate of non-violent resistance.

Saturday · 10 October

Marks the end of Pitru Paksha and the start of Devi Paksha, when the goddess Durga is invited to descend.

Thursday · 15 October

The fourth day of Durga Puja, when preparations and pandal visits begin in earnest.

Friday · 16 October

The fifth day of Durga Puja, on which the goddess is welcomed and pandals open to the public.

Saturday · 17 October

The sixth day, on which the goddess's face is unveiled and the festival formally begins.

Sunday · 18 October

The seventh day, marked by the Nabapatrika bathing ritual at dawn.

Monday · 19 October

The eighth and most sacred day of Durga Puja, marked by Anjali offerings and the Sandhi Puja.

Tuesday · 20 October

The ninth day, on which the final major offerings are made before the goddess departs.

Wednesday · 21 October

Vijaya Dashami, the tenth day, on which the idols are immersed and the goddess is bidden farewell.

Thursday · 22 October

An extra state holiday granted around Durga Puja, when public life in West Bengal is largely suspended.

Friday · 23 October

An extra state holiday granted around Durga Puja, when public life in West Bengal is largely suspended.

Saturday · 24 October

An extra state holiday granted around Durga Puja, when public life in West Bengal is largely suspended.

Sunday · 25 October

Worship of Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity, on the full moon following Durga Puja in Bengal.

Monday · 26 October

An extra state holiday granted around Lakshmi Puja in West Bengal.

Sunday · 8 November

The worship of the goddess Kali on the Diwali new-moon night, the major autumn festival of Bengal alongside Durga Puja.

Monday · 9 November

An extra state holiday granted around Kali Puja in West Bengal.

Tuesday · 10 November

An extra state holiday granted around Kali Puja in West Bengal.

Wednesday · 11 November

The Bengali observance of Bhai Dooj, on which sisters bless their brothers with a sandalwood mark.

Thursday · 12 November

An additional state holiday following the Bhai Dooj observance in West Bengal.

Sunday · 15 November

Marks the birth of Birsa Munda, the tribal leader who led the Ulgulan uprising against British rule.

Sunday · 15 November

Four days of offerings to the setting and rising sun, kept with fasting and river-bank worship.

Monday · 16 November

An extra state holiday granted around Chhath Puja in West Bengal.

Tuesday · 24 November

Marks the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, observed with processions and scripture readings.

Tuesday · 24 November

The chariot procession honouring Parshwanath, the twenty-third Jain Tirthankara.

Friday · 25 December

Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, marked with church services, family gatherings and gift-giving.