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Lakshadweep

Lakshadweep Holiday Guide for 2026

Scattered like emeralds across the Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep moves to its own rhythm. Life here is shaped by tides, traditions, and close-knit communities. For HR teams managing island-based operations, holiday planning is less about ticking boxes and more about syncing payroll, staffing, and cultural sensitivity with geographic realities. 

This guide walks you through public holidays, bank holidays, restricted holidays, and payroll-sensitive dates for Lakshadweep in 2026, so nothing catches you off guard. 

What are the Public Holidays of Lakshadweep in 2026?

These are mandatory holidays observed across government offices and most establishments in Lakshadweep. 

Date  Day  Holiday 
14 Jan 2026  Wednesday  Makar Sankranti 
26 Jan 2026  Monday  Republic Day 
15 Feb 2026  Sunday  Maha Shivratri 
04 Mar 2026  Wednesday  Holi 
21 Mar 2026*  Saturday  Id-ul-Fitr 
26 Mar 2026  Thursday  Ram Navami 
31 Mar 2026  Tuesday  Mahavir Jayanti 
01 May 2026  Friday  Buddha Purnima 
27 May 2026*  Wednesday  Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) 
26 Jun 2026*  Friday  Muharram 
15 Aug 2026  Saturday  Independence Day 
26 Aug 2026*  Wednesday  Milad-un-Nabi 
04 Sep 2026  Friday  Janmashtami 
14 Sep 2026  Monday  Ganesh Chaturthi 
02 Oct 2026  Friday  Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti 
20 Oct 2026  Tuesday  Dussehra 
08 Nov 2026  Sunday  Diwali 
24 Nov 2026  Tuesday  Guru Nanak Jayanti 
25 Dec 2026  Friday  Christmas Day 

HR Action Tip:

Island connectivity can delay approvals and payments. Lock these public holidays into your payroll calendar early and plan buffers for inter-island coordination. 

What are the Bank Holidays of Lakshadweep in 2026?

Banks in Lakshadweep follow Negotiable Instruments Act provisions along with RBI rules. 

Date  Day  Holiday 
14 Jan 2026  Wednesday  Makar Sankranti 
26 Jan 2026  Monday  Republic Day 
15 Feb 2026  Sunday  Maha Shivratri 
04 Mar 2026  Wednesday  Holi 
21 Mar 2026*  Saturday  Id-ul-Fitr 
26 Mar 2026  Thursday  Ram Navami 
31 Mar 2026  Tuesday  Mahavir Jayanti 
01 April 2026  Wednesday  Annual Bank Accounts Closing 
01 May 2026  Friday  Buddha Purnima 
27 May 2026*  Wednesday  Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) 
26 Jun 2026*  Friday  Muharram 
15 Aug 2026  Saturday  Independence Day 
26 Aug 2026*  Wednesday  Milad-un-Nabi 
04 Sep 2026  Friday  Janmashtami 
14 Sep 2026  Monday  Ganesh Chaturthi 
02 Oct 2026  Friday  Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti 
20 Oct 2026  Tuesday  Dussehra 
08 Nov 2026  Sunday  Diwali 
24 Nov 2026  Tuesday  Guru Nanak Jayanti 
25 Dec 2026  Friday  Christmas Day 
All Sundays   —-   
2nd and 4th Saturdays  —-   

HR Action Tip:

Because banking access is limited on islands, process salaries at least 2–3 working days earlier around Eid, Diwali, and year-end closures.

What are the Optional (Restricted) Holidays in Lakshadweep in 2026?

Employees may typically choose any two restricted holidays, subject to organisational policy. 

Date  Day  Holiday 
01 Jan 2026  Thursday  New Year’s Day 
03 Jan 2026  Saturday  Hazrat Ali’s Birthday 
16 Jan 2026  Friday  Rajab 27 
23 Jan 2026  Friday  Basant Panchami / Sri Panchami 
01 Feb 2026  Sunday  Guru Ravi Das Jayanti 
12 Feb 2026  Thursday  Swami Dayananda Saraswati Jayanti 
15 Feb 2026  Sunday  Maha Shivratri 
19 Feb 2026  Thursday  Shivaji Jayanti 
03 Mar 2026  Tuesday  Holika Dahan 
03 March 2026  Tuesday  Dolyatra 
19 March 2026  Tuesday  Ramzan 27 
19 Mar 2026  Thursday  Chaitra Sukladi / Ugadi 
20 Mar 2026  Friday  Jumat-ul-Vida 
03 March 2026  Friday  Good Friday 
05 Apr 2026  Sunday  Easter Sunday 
14 Apr 2026  Tuesday  Vaisakhi / Vishu / Tamil New Year 
15 Apr 2026  Wednesday  Vaisakhadi / Bahag Bihu 
09 May 2026  Saturday  Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti 
16 Jul 2026  Thursday  Rath Yatra 
15 Aug 2026  Saturday  Parsi New Year’s Day 
28 Aug 2026  Friday  Raksha Bandhan 
18 Oct 2026  Sunday  Dussehra (Saptami) 
19 Oct 2026  Monday  Dussehra (Ashtami) 
20 Oct 2026  Tuesday  Dussehra (Navami) 
26 Oct 2026  Monday  Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti 
29 Oct 2026  Thursday  Karva Chauth 
08 Nov 2026  Sunday  Naraka Chaturdashi 
09 Nov 2026  Monday  Govardhan Pooja 
11 Nov 2026  Wednesday  Bhai Dooj 
15 Nov 2026  Sunday  Chhat Puja 
24 Nov 2026  Tuesday  Guru Teg Bahadur’s Martyrdom Day 
23 Dec 2026  Wednesday  Hazrat Ali’s Birthday 
24 Dec 2026  Thursday  Christmas Eve 

HR Action Tip:

Ask employees to declare restricted holidays quarter-wise, not month-wise. This helps manage staffing gaps, especially for healthcare, transport, and tourism roles. 

Payroll-Sensitive Dates to Watch Out for HR Professionals

Key holidays with bank closures or high leave demand can disrupt payroll in Lakshadweep’s remote setting. Proactive planning during these ensure financial flow and employee trust. 

Date  Day  Holiday 
21 Mar 2026  Saturday  Id-ul-Fitr 
01 Apr 2026  Wednesday  Bank Accounts Closing 
27 May 2026  Wednesday  Id-ul-Zuha 
15 Aug 2026  Saturday  Independence Day 
20 Oct 2026  Tuesday  Dussehra 
25 Dec 2026  Friday  Christmas Day 

HR Action Tip:

For island locations, payroll delays hurt trust faster. Pre-run salary calculations before long weekends and festival clusters.

Got questions?

How many public holidays are observed in Jammu and Kashmir in 2026?

Jammu and Kashmir observes over 25 UT-wide public holidays in 2026, in addition to provincial and local holidays. The total number applicable to an employee depends on their posting location.

Are there different holidays for Jammu and Kashmir regions?

Yes. Certain holidays apply only to Jammu Province, others to Kashmir Province, and some are district-specific. HR teams managing multi-location workforces should map holidays by region to avoid payroll errors or unapproved absences.

Do bank holidays follow the same holiday calendar as government offices?

Banks observe all UT-wide public holidays, along with Sundays and second and fourth Saturdays. Additionally, 1 April is a bank-specific closure due to annual account finalization, which can affect salary credits and statutory payments.

How should HR teams plan payroll during long festival clusters?

Festival clusters around March and October can compress working days. HR teams should process payroll 3–5 working days earlier, communicate cut-off dates clearly, and coordinate with finance teams to ensure uninterrupted salary disbursement.

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