Punjab Public Holidays 2026

Understanding Punjab's Holiday Calendar in 2026

Punjab's holiday calendar is shaped by the Sikh faith, the harvest cycle, and the state's deep connection to its martial and spiritual history. Lohri in January, Baisakhi in April, and Guru Nanak Jayanti in November — these three dates anchor the Punjab calendar in a way that's different from every other state in India. If you're setting up a leave policy for a Punjab-based team for the first time, start by understanding these three.

Lohri on January 13 is not just a bonfire festival — it's a harvest celebration tied to the wheat growing season, and in Punjab it's celebrated with a communal energy that few other Indian festivals match. Families and neighbourhoods gather around bonfires the evening of January 13, and the day itself is a public holiday. Maghi (January 14) follows immediately after, meaning Punjab starts the new year with two consecutive holidays.

Punjab follows the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, with the state Labour Department issuing the annual holiday notification. The state has one of the country's most organised union movements, and employee rights around holidays and leave are taken seriously by both employers and workers. Compliance with the declared holiday list is non-negotiable.

National Holidays in Punjab

Punjab observes Republic Day, Independence Day, and Gandhi Jayanti as national holidays. These are non-negotiable across all establishment types. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti is also observed as a national holiday and carries significance in Punjab given the state's substantial Dalit Sikh community.

Punjab-Specific Holidays

Baisakhi on April 13 is perhaps Punjab's most historically significant holiday. It marks the founding of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699, and it also coincides with the harvest of the winter wheat crop. In Amritsar, the Golden Temple celebrations on Baisakhi draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. For businesses with Amritsar or Anandpur Sahib operations, plan for minimal activity on April 13 and the surrounding days.

Guru Nanak Jayanti (Gurpurab) is the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, and it's the most important religious festival in the Sikh calendar. In 2026, it falls on approximately November 23 (Kartik Purnima). Langar (community kitchen) is offered at Gurudwaras across Punjab, and the morning processions (Prabhat Pheris) begin days before. It is a full gazetted holiday across Punjab.

Hola Mohalla, the Sikh martial arts festival, runs for three days at Anandpur Sahib around Holi. It was started by Guru Gobind Singh as a day for Sikhs to practice battle skills. While the official holiday aligns with Holi (March 14, 2026), the Hola Mohalla festival at Anandpur Sahib draws employees from across Punjab for an extended period.

Restricted Holidays in Punjab

Punjab's restricted holiday list includes Eid ul-Fitr, Maha Shivratri, Good Friday, Buddha Purnima, Christmas, and Dussehra. The state's restricted list is designed to accommodate Punjab's Hindu and Muslim minority communities alongside the majority Sikh population. The Eid dates in particular — being on the restricted list rather than gazetted — may surprise employees from other states where Eid is fully gazetted.

HR & Payroll Guidance for Punjab — 2026

For Punjab-based HR teams, the January calendar needs careful attention. Lohri (January 13) and Maghi (January 14) create two consecutive holidays at the very start of the working year. Combined with New Year's informal break, most Punjab teams don't hit full productivity until January 19-20. Build this into your annual planning.

The Guru Nanak Jayanti window in late November is another period of reduced productivity. The Gurpurab celebrations are not confined to a single day — Gurudwara activities, langar service, and community gatherings extend across the week. Many employees take casual leave around November 23 to participate fully.

Engage HRMS helps Punjab-based HR teams by automatically blocking out gazetted holidays in the attendance module, so absent employees on Baisakhi or Gurpurab aren't marked as unauthorised absences. It also provides a clear restricted holiday tracking view so you can see which employees have selected which restricted dates for the year.