Public Holiday: 44 days of public holiday declared in one year, all schools, banks and government offices will remain closed

Bihar Holiday Calendar 2026: Know which festivals and special days will be holidays in 2026, and why employees are calling it ‘bonus year’.

Bihar Holiday Calendar 2026: Nitish government has released the government holiday calendar for 2026. Employees will get a total of 44 days of leave, which includes 11 general holidays, 15 public holidays and 17 optional holidays. The government has taken this decision on the suggestion of the General Administration Department. It has been approved in the cabinet meeting. After the release of the calendar, discussions have started about it among government offices and employees.

The government has taken care of all religions in the holiday calendar of 2026. Festivals of both Hindu and Muslim communities have been included in the holidays. The government has tried to ensure that everyone gets equal leave.

General Holidays (11 days)

All government offices across the state will remain closed on these holidays. These include national festivals like Republic Day, Independence Day and Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti.

Public Holidays (15 days)

Public holidays are those which are declared by the state government keeping in mind festivals and special occasions. These include festivals like Holi, Diwali, Eid, Durga Puja, Chhath, Rakshabandhan.

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Optional Holidays (17 days)

Optional holidays i.e. Restricted Holidays are those which employees can choose as per their convenience. All employees will get the benefit of these holidays, but it will not be mandatory to choose any of them.

General Holidays 2026

1. Vasant Panchami – January 23
2. Saint Ravidas Jayanti – 01 February
3. Shab-e-Baraat – 04 February
4. Maha Shivaratri – February 15
5. Emperor Ashoka Ashtami – 26 March
6. Veer Kunwar Singh Jayanti – 23 April
7. Janaki Navami – 25th April
8. Kabir Jayanti – June 29
9. Chehlum – 04 August
10. Durga Puja (Saptami) – October 17
11. Chitragupt Puja on Bhai Dooj – November 10

Optional/Restricted Holidays 2026

1. New Year – 01 January
2. Makar Sankranti – January 14
3. Karpuri Thakur’s birth anniversary – 24 January
4. Holika Dahan – 02 March
5. Last Friday of Ramadan – 13th March
6. Idul Fitr – March 22
7. Idul Zoha – 29 May
8. Anugrah Narayan Singh Birth Anniversary – 18 June
9. Muharram – June 27
10. Last Shrawan Monday – 24th August
11. Rakshabandhan – 28 August
12. Haritahalka Teej – 14 September
13. Vishwakarma Puja – 17 September
14. Anant Chaturdashi – September 25
15. Jivitputrika Vrat – 04 October
16. Durga Puja Kalash Sthapana – 11 October
17. Jay Prakash Narayan’s Birth Anniversary – October 11
18. Durga Puja – October 21st
19. Shri Krishna Singh Jayanti – 21 October
20. Chhath Puja Kharna – 14 November
21. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Birth Anniversary – 03 December
22. Christmas Eve – December 24

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