How Maharashtra holiday lists work
India publishes central government holidays, while Maharashtra issues its own list that includes state-specific days such as Gudi Padwa, Maharashtra Day (1 May), and regional observances. Banks, schools, private offices, and courts may follow slightly different calendars. This page aggregates commonly observed public holidays that also appear in our festival list when the day is marked as a holiday.
Treat this as a planning aid, not a legal circular. Final authority is the Government of Maharashtra / Government of India notification for the year.
Planning tips for families & offices
- Bridge weekends when a holiday falls on Friday or Monday — book trains/buses early around Gudi Padwa, Ganesh, and Diwali.
- Ganesh Chaturthi to Anant Chaturdashi (mid–late September 2026) creates city congestion in Mumbai and Pune; plan WFH or leave if your commute crosses visarjan routes.
- Diwali leave often spans more than the gazetted days; confirm with HR separately from the government list.
- Optional / restricted holidays (e.g. some Jayantis) may be available only to certain communities or as floating leave — check your organisation’s policy.
Holiday vs festival
Not every festival is a government holiday, and not every holiday is a religious festival (e.g. Republic Day). Use All Festivals 2026 for Ekadashi and moon days used for vrat, and this page for days when offices/schools typically close.
Who follows which list?
- Central government offices — follow the DoPT / central holiday circular (Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti, plus selected festivals).
- Maharashtra state offices & many schools — add Gudi Padwa, Maharashtra Day, Ganesh Chaturthi, Dasara, Diwali cluster, and other state notifications.
- Banks — usually align with RBI / bank holiday lists; a temple festival holiday may not close every branch.
- IT / private companies — often a shorter fixed list plus floating optional holidays; Diwali week policies vary widely.
- Courts & universities — publish separate calendars; never assume school holidays match your college.
Travel & leave strategy for 2026 peaks
Gudi Padwa (19 Mar): Intra-state travel to native places fills ST and Konkan trains — book early. Ganesh (14–24 Sep): Avoid unnecessary cross-city meetings on visarjan day. Dasara (21 Oct): Good for short family trips after Navratri school breaks. Diwali (8–10 Nov): Air and rail fares spike; if you only need one gazetted day off, confirm whether your HR grants the full Padwa/Bhau-Beej stretch.
Pair this page with month guides: March, September, October, November.
Holiday FAQ
Is Maha Shivaratri always a holiday in Maharashtra?
It is often listed, but confirm the year’s official circular for your district and employer. Temple observance continues even if offices stay open.
Why is New Year’s Day on the list?
1 January is commonly observed as a public/bank holiday in many calendars even though it is not a Hindu tithi festival.
Do restricted holidays count?
Restricted / optional holidays are usually chosen from a list by employees. This page focuses on widely closed days; check your organisation’s optional list separately.
Where do festival dates without holidays live?
On All Festivals 2026 — filter by Ekadashi or moon days.