Ever found yourself eagerly flipping through the calendar, looking for those upcoming holidays? We all do it! Whether it’s an earned leave, a sick day, or those precious national and restricted holidays, who doesn’t crave a little extra time off? It’s a chance to escape from work and enjoy some personal time. In India, the land of vibrant cultures and traditions, we’re truly blessed with a plethora of festivals, each bringing its own unique holiday.
India’s cultural diversity means that we celebrate numerous occasions and festivals with great enthusiasm. This also translates into a wide range of holidays throughout the year. Unlike the mandatory national holidays, these festive day-offs can vary a lot. Thereby, causing complexity for HR professionals while planning the annual holiday calendar. So, let us know what these holidays are all about and how they impact us.
As an HR professional, it’s your duty to design the yearly holiday policies for your company at the start of the financial year. Sounds straightforward, right? Not quite. It’s crucial to refer to the government-released holiday calendar for the respective year. Checking both central government-gazetted holidays and compulsory holidays for private companies is a must before you finalize the leave policy on your HR software portal. Now, let’s understand what are the major types of holidays in India.
Primarily, there are two categories of holidays in India: National and Restricted. Read on for further information.
So, what exactly is a national holiday? In simple terms, it’s a day when the entire country takes a pause to commemorate significant events like independence or establishment.
In India, we have three major national holidays:
These days are compulsory holidays for everyone, including private companies. No exceptions here—everyone gets to join in the celebrations!
Now, let’s talk about restricted holidays, often called ‘Optional Holidays’. These are not mandatory. Instead, they offer flexibility, allowing employees to decide if they want to take leave on those specific days. Think of it as a holiday buffet—you pick according to your taste.
Common examples of restricted holidays include: Shri Ram Navami, Chhath Puja, etc.
These are often religious festivals celebrated by Hindus, giving employees the freedom to choose according to their personal preferences and beliefs.
Here’s a quick comparison to make things clear:
For HR professionals, planning the holiday calendar involves balancing these different types of holidays. It’s not just about ticking boxes but ensuring employees have a sound work-life balance. Checking the official holiday lists and incorporating both national and restricted holidays can help create a comprehensive leave policy that everyone appreciates.
Before framing holiday policies for companies, let’s take a look at the list of national and restricted holidays in India for the year 2025.
| Occasion | Date | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| New Year | 1 January, 2025 | Public Holiday |
| Guru Govind Singh Jayanti | 6 January, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Lohri | 14 January, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Makar Sankranti | 14 January, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Pongal | 14 January, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Republic Day | 26 January, 2025 | National Holiday |
| Occasion | Date | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| Vasant Panchmi | 2 February, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti | 19 February, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Maha Shivaratri | 26 February, 2025 | Gazetted Holiday |
| Occasion | Date | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| Holika Dahan | 13 Match, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Holi | 14 March, 2025 | Gazetted Holiday |
| Dolyatra | 14 March, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Ugadi | 30 March, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Gudi Padwa | 30 March, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Occasion | Date | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| Ram Navami | 6 April, 2025 | Gazetted Holiday |
| Mahavir Jayanti | 10 April, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Vaisakhi | 13 April, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Ambedkar Jayanti | 14 April, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Good Friday | 18 April, 2025 | Gazzeted Holiday |
| Easter Day | 20 April, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Occasion | Date | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| Rabindranath Tagore Janmdiwas | 9 May, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Buddha Purnima | 12 May, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Occasion | Date | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| Rath Yatra | 27 June, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Occasion | Date | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| Guru Purnima | 10 July, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Event/Occasion | Date | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi) | 9 August, 2025 | Gazetted Holiday |
| Independance Day | 15 August, 2025 | National Holiday |
| Krishna Janamashtami | 16 August, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Ganesh Chaturthi | 27 August, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Occasion | Date | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| Onam | 5 September, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Durga Puja | 28 September, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Maha Ashtami | 30 September, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Occasion | Date | Holiday Type |
| Maha Navami | 1 October, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Gandhi Jayanti | 2 October, 2025 | National Holiday |
| Dusshera | 2 October, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti | 7 October, 2025 | Public Holiday |
| Karak Chaturthi (Karva Chauth) | 10 October, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Deepavali | 20 October, 2025 | Gazetted Holiday |
| Govardhan Puja | 22 October, 2025 | Gazetted Holiday |
| Bhai Duj | 23 October, 2025 | Gazetted Holiday |
| Chhath Pooja | 28 October, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Occasion | Date | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| Guru Nanak Jayanti | 5 November, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Guru Tegh Bahadur's Martyrdom Day | 24 November, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Occasion | Date | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas Eve | 24 December, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
| Christmas | 25 December, 2025 | Gazetted Holiday |
| New Year's Eve | 25 December, 2025 | Restricted Holiday |
So, next time you’re excited about an upcoming holiday, remember the effort that goes into planning it. Whether it’s a mandatory national holiday or a flexible restricted one, each day off is a step towards a happier, more balanced life.
There are 3 national holidays that are observed in every part of the country. These holidays are Republic Day on the 26th of January, Independence Day on the 15th of August, and Gandhi Jayanti on the 2nd of October.
No, the public or government holidays differ from state to state. There might be some common holidays, but there are some holidays that are specific to the culture and history of each state.
No, you can’t, until you are currently residing in that state.
Yes, there are several states which allow their employees to enjoy New Year by making it a public holiday.
Yes, the above restricted and public holidays list is applicable for all the industries including IT/Tech, Manufacturing, Logistics, Healthcare, Software, Mining, Aviation, Hospitality, BFSI, and more.
It totally depends upon the entity location and diversity. You can keep the holiday optional for few employees or permanent holiday for the native festivals.
