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Ladakh Holiday Calendar 2026: Losar, Hemis Tsechu, Buddha Purnima, Public & Commercial Holidays

In the Union Territory of Ladakh, public, commercial, and workplace holidays are regulated under the Jammu and Kashmir Shops and Establishments Act, 1966 (as adapted to the Union Territory of Ladakh), the Factories Act, 1948, and annual notifications issued by the Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

Enterprises across Leh and Kargil structure their annual holiday rosters around Buddhist, Islamic, and national cultural celebrations—including Losar (Ladakhi New Year), Mela Dosmochey, Hemis Tsechu, Buddha Purnima, and Eid festivals.

Ladakh Statutory Quota

Under the applicable framework, commercial establishments must provide a minimum of 8 paid holidays per year, including the 3 National Holidays and regional festive closures.

📅 Official Ladakh Statutory & Public Holiday Calendar 2026​

The following comprehensive schedule reflects the gazetted public holidays, bank closures under the NI Act, and regional/restricted festival observances across Leh and Kargil:

DateDayHoliday / OccasionClassificationStatutory / Corporate Applicability
01-01-2026ThursdayNew Year's DayUT Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Regional Holiday
03-01-2026SaturdayHazrat Ali's BirthdayUT Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Floating Holiday
05-01-2026MondayGuru Gobind Singh Ji's BirthdayRestricted / Regional ObservanceOptional / Floating Holiday
13-01-2026TuesdayLohriRestricted ObservanceOptional / Floating Holiday
17-01-2026SaturdayShab-I-MirajUT Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Religious Observance
26-01-2026MondayRepublic DayNational HolidayMandatory Paid Off (Statutory)
15-02-2026SundayMaha ShivratriGazetted / NI ActOptional / Sunday Overlap
16-02-2026MondayMela DosmocheyUT Gazetted / Regional (Leh)Major UT Cultural Holiday
03-03-2026TuesdayTangpe ChongyaUT Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Regional Festival
04-03-2026WednesdayHoliGazetted / RegionalOptional / Corporate Choice
13-03-2026FridayShab-I-QadrUT Gazetted / RegionalMajor Religious Holiday
19-03-2026Thursday1st NavratraRestricted ObservanceOptional / Floating Holiday
20-03-2026FridayJumat-ul-VidaUT Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Regional Holiday
21-03-2026SaturdayEid-ul-Fitr / NaurozGazetted / NI ActMandatory / Gazetted Public Holiday
26-03-2026ThursdayRam NavamiGazetted / RegionalOptional / Floating Holiday
01-04-2026WednesdayYearly Closing of Bank AccountsNI Act (Section 25)Banks & Financial Accounts Only
03-04-2026FridayGood FridayGazetted / NI ActGazetted Public Holiday / Optional
14-04-2026TuesdayBaisakhi / Birthday of Dr. B. R. AmbedkarGazetted / NI ActMandatory / Gazetted Public Holiday
01-05-2026FridayLabour Day (May Day) / Buddha PurnimaGazetted / RegionalMandatory UT Cultural & Labour Holiday
02-05-2026SaturdayBuddha Purnima (Extended Observance)UT Gazetted / CulturalMajor Cultural Mandate (Leh & Kargil)
27-05-2026 / 28-05-2026Wednesday / ThursdayEid-ul-Azha (Bakrid)Gazetted / NI ActMandatory / Gazetted Public Holiday (Simpliance: 27-05; HR Deck: 28-05)
04-06-2026ThursdayEid-e-GhadeerUT Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Regional Holiday
18-06-2026ThursdayMartyr's Day of Guru Arjun Dev JiRestricted ObservanceOptional / Floating Holiday
24-06-2026WednesdayHemis TsechuUT Gazetted / RegionalMajor UT Cultural Holiday (Monastic Festival)
25-06-2026 / 26-06-2026Thursday / FridayAshura (Muharram)Gazetted / NI ActMandatory / Gazetted Public Holiday (Simpliance: 26-06; HR Deck: 25-06)
05-07-2026SundayGuru Hargobind Singh Ji's BirthdayRestricted ObservanceOptional / Floating Holiday
04-08-2026TuesdayChehlum (Youm-e-Arbaeen)UT Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Religious Observance
15-08-2026SaturdayIndependence DayNational HolidayMandatory Paid Off (Statutory)
26-08-2026WednesdayEid-i-Milad-ul-Nabi (Birthday of Prophet Mohammad)Gazetted / NI ActGazetted Public Holiday / Optional
28-08-2026FridayFriday following Eid-i-Milad-ul-Nabi / Raksha BandhanUT Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Regional Holiday
04-09-2026FridayJanmashtamiGazetted / RegionalOptional / Corporate Choice
02-10-2026FridayMahatma Gandhi's BirthdayNational HolidayMandatory Paid Off (Statutory)
20-10-2026TuesdayDussehra / MahanavamiGazetted / NI ActGazetted Public Holiday / Optional
26-10-2026MondayAccession DayUT Gazetted / RegionalUT Gazetted Holiday
31-10-2026SaturdayUT of Ladakh Formation DayStatehood / Foundation DayMajor UT Holiday
08-11-2026SundayDiwali (Deepavali)Gazetted / NI ActGazetted Public Holiday (Sunday Overlap)
24-11-2026TuesdayGuru Nanak Dev Ji's BirthdayGazetted / NI ActGazetted Public Holiday / Optional
09-12-2026WednesdayLosar (Ladakhi New Year)UT Gazetted / RegionalMajor UT Cultural Holiday
25-12-2026FridayChristmas DayGazetted / NI ActGazetted Public Holiday (Corporate Off)

📋 Employer Compliance Checklist for Ladakh​

Commercial establishments, transport firms, hospitality operators, and contractors in Leh, Kargil, and Nubra must adhere to the following statutory guidelines:

  1. Annual Notice of Holidays: Display the approved holiday calendar on workplace notice boards by 1st January.
  2. Weekly Day of Rest: Provide one full day of weekly rest to all employees.
  3. Double Wages or Comp-Off: Employees required to work on an approved statutory holiday must receive double wages (200%), or normal daily pay plus a paid compensatory off within 30 days.
  4. Seasonal & Monastic Observances: Due to strong regional customs, employers across Leh and Kargil generally accommodate employees during key monastic celebrations (Hemis Tsechu, Mela Dosmochey) and religious milestones (Losar, Ashura, Buddha Purnima).

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)​

1. What is Hemis Tsechu in Ladakh?​

Hemis Tsechu is a world-famous two-day monastic festival held at the historic Hemis Monastery in Ladakh celebrating the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), featuring sacred Cham masked dances and traditional music.

2. When is Losar observed in Ladakh?​

In Ladakh, Losar (Ladakhi New Year) is officially celebrated in the twelfth Buddhist month, falling on 9th December 2026, marked by cultural illumination and traditional festivities throughout Leh and Zanskar.

3. When is Ladakh Formation Day observed?​

31st October marks Ladakh UT Formation Day, commemorating the formal establishment of Ladakh as an autonomous Union Territory of India under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.