Gujarat Public Holidays 2026

Understanding Gujarat's Holiday Calendar in 2026

Gujarat's calendar has a few features that will surprise you if you're new to managing teams in the state. Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti) on January 14 is easily the biggest non-Diwali festival in Gujarat — kite flying takes over the skies above Ahmedabad, Surat, and Vadodara from January 13 through 14, and the city functionally shuts down. And then there's Bestu Varas — the Gujarati New Year, which falls the day after Diwali rather than at midnight on January 1.

The Gujarati business community is known for starting the year fresh on Bestu Varas — account books are opened, new ventures are announced, and sweets are exchanged. For payroll purposes, this is important: the period from Diwali through Bestu Varas (usually a three-to-four day window) sees near-zero commercial activity in Gujarat, and salaries processed during this window may face delays.

Gujarat follows the Gujarat Shops and Establishments Act for commercial enterprises. The state government issues the official holiday notification, and the dates for lunar holidays — particularly Eid and Diwali-period holidays — need to be confirmed annually. Gujarat also has a significant diamond, textile, and chemical industry, and factory-registered units follow a separate schedule.

National Holidays in Gujarat

Gandhi Jayanti carries extra significance in Gujarat because Mahatma Gandhi was born in Porbandar, Gujarat. October 2 is observed across the state with particular reverence — government offices organise cleanliness drives, cultural events, and remembrance ceremonies. It's a holiday that businesses in Gujarat should treat with more than a day-off mentality.

Gujarat-Specific Holidays

Uttarayan on January 14 is not just a holiday in Gujarat — it's a festival that the entire state participates in simultaneously. The sky above Ahmedabad gets so crowded with kites that it's visible on satellite imagery. Offices that remain technically open see skeletal attendance, suppliers don't deliver, and meetings get rescheduled. Plan your Q3 close (most companies run October-December as Q3) with Uttarayan in mind.

Bestu Varas is the Gujarati equivalent of a new year — it falls the day after Diwali (Laxmi Puja night). In 2026, that would be November 9, a Monday. For many Gujarati business families, this is when the new financial year begins, new account books are purchased, and the Chopda Pujan (worship of account books) is performed. If you work with Gujarati suppliers or clients, don't expect business-as-usual communication from late October through Bestu Varas.

Dhuleti (the day after Holi) is Gujarat's version of colour play, and it's a holiday in the state. In 2026, Holi falls on a Saturday, which means Dhuleti (March 15) falls on a Sunday. Whether establishments observe Dhuleti on March 14 or 15 depends on how the state notification is issued — watch for the official gazette.

Restricted Holidays in Gujarat

Gujarat's restricted list includes Good Friday, Buddha Purnima, Christmas, Milad-un-Nabi, and a few others. The state's restricted list reflects Gujarat's commercial diversity — the state has significant Jain, Muslim, and Christian communities alongside the Hindu majority, and the restricted list tries to accommodate this.

HR & Payroll Guidance for Gujarat — 2026

The Diwali-to-Bestu Varas period is the single biggest challenge for Gujarat-based payroll teams. Three to four gazetted holidays fall within a five-to-six day window, and employee leave requests cluster around this period. Starting payroll processing a week early for October/November is a habit most experienced Gujarat HR managers develop over time.

For companies with pan-India operations, Gujarat's holiday cluster around Uttarayan (January) and the Diwali period creates two dead zones in the calendar when Gujarat-based teams are effectively unavailable. Build this into project and client communication plans at the start of the year.

Engage HRMS automates payroll date adjustments for bank holidays, generates holiday clash alerts when too many team members apply for leave simultaneously, and maintains state-specific calendars so your Gujarat team's leave balance reflects Gujarat's holidays — not a generic national template.