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Lakshadweep Holiday Calendar 2026: Statutory, Public & Commercial Holidays

In the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, public, commercial, and workplace holidays are regulated under notifications issued by the Administration of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep (Secretariat, Kavaratti) under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, the Factories Act, 1948, and applicable Central Union Territory commercial guidelines.

Enterprises, port operations, government undertakings, hospitality units, and shipping establishments across Kavaratti, Agatti, Andrott, and Minicoy structure their annual holiday rosters around national observances, Islamic calendar milestones, and pan-Indian cultural events.

Lakshadweep Statutory Quota

Commercial establishments operating in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep must provide a minimum of 8 paid holidays per year, which strictly include the 3 National Holidays (26 January, 15 August, 2 October) along with approved regional religious and administrative festival days.

📅 Official Lakshadweep Statutory & Public Holiday Calendar 2026​

The following comprehensive schedule reflects the gazetted public holidays, bank closures under the NI Act, and restricted/optional holidays across the islands:

DateDayHoliday / OccasionClassificationStatutory / Corporate Applicability
01-01-2026ThursdayNew Year's DayGazette / RegionalYes (Corporate Off)
03-01-2026SaturdayHazrat Ali's BirthdayState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Regional Holiday
14-01-2026WednesdayPongal - Makar SankrantiGazette / RegionalYes (Regional Priority)
16-01-2026FridayRajab 27 (Miraj-un-Nabi)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (High Regional Priority)
23-01-2026FridayBasant Panchami - Sri PanchamiRestricted ObservanceOptional / Floating Holiday
26-01-2026MondayRepublic DayNational HolidayMandatory Paid Off (Statutory)
01-02-2026SundayGuru Ravidass BirthdayRestricted ObservanceOptional / Sunday Overlap
12-02-2026ThursdayBirthday of Swami Dayananda SaraswatiRestricted ObservanceOptional / Floating Holiday
15-02-2026SundayMaha ShivratriRestricted / Regional ObservanceOptional / Sunday Overlap
19-02-2026ThursdayShivaji JayantiRestricted ObservanceOptional / Floating Holiday
03-03-2026TuesdayHolika Dahan - DolyatraGazetted / RegionalOptional / Corporate Choice
04-03-2026WednesdayHoliRestricted ObservanceOptional / Floating Holiday
17-03-2026TuesdayRamzan 27 (Shab-e-Qadr)State Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major Religious Holiday)
19-03-2026ThursdayChaitra Sukladi - Gudi Padava - UgadiRestricted ObservanceOptional / Floating Holiday
20-03-2026FridayJamat-Ul-VidaState Gazetted / RegionalYes (Major Religious Holiday)
21-03-2026SaturdayId-ul-FitrGazette / NI ActMandatory / Gazetted Public Holiday
26-03-2026ThursdayRam NavamiRestricted ObservanceOptional / Floating Holiday
31-03-2026TuesdayMahavir JayantiRestricted ObservanceOptional / Floating Holiday
01-04-2026WednesdayAnnual Closing of Bank AccountsNI Act (Section 25)Banks & Financial Accounts Only
03-04-2026FridayGood FridayGazette / NI ActGazetted Public Holiday (Corporate Off)
05-04-2026SundayEaster SundayRestricted ObservanceOptional / Sunday Overlap
14-04-2026TuesdayVaisakhi - Vishu - Meshadi / Dr. B.R. Ambedkar JayantiGazette / NI ActMandatory / Gazetted Public Holiday
15-04-2026WednesdayVaisakhadi (Bengal) - Bahag BihuRestricted ObservanceOptional / Floating Holiday
01-05-2026FridayMay Day / Budha PurnimaGazette / RegionalMandatory / Industrial Priority
09-05-2026SaturdayGuru Rabindranath's BirthdayRestricted ObservanceOptional / Floating Holiday
27-05-2026WednesdayId-ul-Zuha (Bakrid)Gazette / NI ActMandatory / Gazetted Public Holiday
26-06-2026FridayMuharramGazette / NI ActMandatory / Gazetted Public Holiday
16-07-2026ThursdayRath YatraRestricted ObservanceOptional / Floating Holiday
15-08-2026SaturdayIndependence Day - Naoroz - Parsi New Year's DayNational Holiday / NI ActMandatory Paid Off (Statutory)
26-08-2026WednesdayOnam - Milad-un-NabiState Gazetted / RegionalMandatory / High Regional Priority
28-08-2026FridayRaksha BandhanRestricted ObservanceOptional / Floating Holiday
01-09-2026TuesdayJanmashtamiGazette / RegionalOptional / Corporate Choice
14-09-2026MondayGanesh ChaturthiGazette / RegionalOptional / Floating Holiday
02-10-2026FridayGandhi JayantiNational HolidayMandatory Paid Off (Statutory)
18-10-2026SundayDussehra (Saptami)Restricted ObservanceOptional / Sunday Overlap
19-10-2026MondayDussehra (Mahashtami)Restricted ObservanceOptional / Floating Holiday
20-10-2026TuesdayDussehra (Vijay Dashmi)Gazette / NI ActMandatory / Gazetted Public Holiday
26-10-2026MondayMaharshi Valmiki's BirthdayRestricted ObservanceOptional / Floating Holiday
29-10-2026ThursdayKarva ChauthRestricted ObservanceOptional / Floating Holiday
08-11-2026SundayDiwali - Naraka ChaturdashiGazette / NI ActGazetted Public Holiday (Sunday Overlap)
09-11-2026MondayGovardhan PujaRestricted ObservanceOptional / Floating Holiday
11-11-2026WednesdayBhai DujRestricted ObservanceOptional / Floating Holiday
15-11-2026SundayChhat PujaRestricted ObservanceOptional / Sunday Overlap
24-11-2026TuesdayGuru Nanak's Birthday - Guru Teg Bahadur's Martyrdom DayGazette / NI ActGazetted Public Holiday / Optional
23-12-2026WednesdayHazrat Ali's Birthday (Second)Restricted / Regional ObservanceOptional / Religious Observance
25-12-2026FridayChristmasGazette / NI ActGazetted Public Holiday (Corporate Off)

📋 Employer Compliance Checklist for Lakshadweep​

  1. Annual Holiday Notice Display: Display the approved holiday calendar on employee notice boards and internal portals by 1st January.
  2. Weekly Day of Rest: Provide one full day of weekly rest to all employees across island establishments.
  3. Double Wages or Comp-Off: Employees required to work on an approved holiday must receive double wages (200%), or normal daily pay plus a paid compensatory off within 30 days.
  4. Maritime & Transport Operations: Establishments in shipping, inter-island boat services, and essential logistics must formulate rotation rosters to maintain critical connectivity while honoring statutory compensation.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)​

1. Does Lakshadweep follow the Central Government or Kerala gazette calendar?​

The Administration of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep issues an autonomous gazette under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. Because of historical and cultural ties, key regional observances like Vishu, Milad-un-Nabi, Rajab 27, Ramzan 27, and Onam are widely observed alongside Central Government holidays.

2. What compensation is required if port or hospitality workers work on Republic Day?​

Employees working on Republic Day or any mandatory holiday must be compensated at double the ordinary daily wage rate (200%), or granted regular pay plus an alternative paid compensatory day off within the statutory validity window.

3. Why are there two Hazrat Ali Birthdays listed in 2026?​

Because the Islamic lunar Hijri calendar is approximately 10 to 11 days shorter than the solar Gregorian calendar, Hazrat Ali's Birthday (13 Rajab) falls twice in Gregorian 2026: once on 3rd January 2026 (1447 AH) and again on 23rd December 2026 (1448 AH).