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Maharashtra Holiday Calendar 2026: Statutory, Public & Commercial Holidays

In Maharashtra, the declaration and administration of public, bank, and commercial holidays are governed under the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017, the Maharashtra Industrial Establishments (National and Festival Holidays) Act, and annual gazette notifications issued by the General Administration Department (GAD), Government of Maharashtra under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

Commercial establishments, corporate offices, IT parks in Mumbai and Pune, and manufacturing hubs across the state must observe statutory holidays in strict accordance with the legal framework outlined below.

Statutory Mandate for Maharashtra

Under Section 18 of the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Act, 2017, every employee is entitled to at least 8 paid festival holidays in each calendar year, including the 3 National Holidays (26 January, 15 August, 2 October) and Maharashtra Day (1 May).

📅 Official Maharashtra Statutory & Public Holiday Calendar 2026​

The following schedule reflects the gazetted public holidays, bank closures under the NI Act, and regional festival observances across Maharashtra:

DateDayHoliday / OccasionClassificationStatutory / Corporate Applicability
26-01-2026MondayRepublic DayNational HolidayMandatory Paid Off (Statutory)
15-02-2026 / 18-02-2026Sunday / WednesdayMahashivratriGazette / NI ActOptional / Industry Discretion (Simpliance: 15-02; HR Deck: 18-02)
19-02-2026ThursdayChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj JayantiState Gazetted / RegionalYes (State Mandate / High Priority) (Simpliance: 19-02; HR Deck: 15-02)
03-03-2026TuesdayHoli (Second Day - Dhulivandan)Gazette / NI ActMandatory / Major State Priority
19-03-2026ThursdayGudhi Padwa (Marathi New Year)State Gazetted / RegionalMandatory / High Regional Priority
21-03-2026SaturdayRamzan-Id (Id-Ul-Fitra) (Shawal-1)Gazette / NI ActMandatory / Gazetted Public Holiday
26-03-2026ThursdayRam NavamiGazette / NI ActOptional / Corporate Choice (Simpliance: 26-03; HR Deck: 26-03)
31-03-2026TuesdayMahavir JanmakalyanakGazette / NI ActGazetted Public Holiday / Optional
01-04-2026WednesdayTo enable the Banks to close their yearly accountsNI Act (Section 25)Commercial & Co-operative Banks Only
03-04-2026FridayGood FridayGazette / NI ActGazetted Public Holiday (Standard Corporate Off)
14-04-2026TuesdayDr. Babasaheb Ambedkar JayantiState & National GazetteMandatory State Statutory Holiday
01-05-2026FridayMaharashtra Din / Buddha Pournima / Labour DayState Foundation DayMandatory Paid Off (Sec 18 Mandate)
02-05-2026SaturdayBuddha Pournima (Extended Observance)Gazette / RegionalOptional / Floating Holiday
27-05-2026 / 28-05-2026Wednesday / ThursdayBakri ID (Id-Uz-Zuha)Gazette / NI ActMandatory / Gazetted Public Holiday (Simpliance: 28-05; HR Deck: 27-05)
26-06-2026 / 27-06-2026Friday / SaturdayMoharumGazette / NI ActGazetted Public Holiday / Optional (Simpliance: 26-06; HR Deck: 27-06)
15-08-2026SaturdayIndependence Day / Parsi New Year (Shahenshahi)National Holiday / NI ActMandatory Paid Off (Statutory)
26-08-2026 / 28-08-2026Wednesday / FridayId-E-MiladGazette / NI ActGazetted Public Holiday / Optional (Simpliance: 26-08; HR Deck: 28-08)
14-09-2026MondayGanesh ChaturthiState Gazetted / RegionalMandatory / Major State Priority
02-10-2026FridayMahatma Gandhi JayantiNational HolidayMandatory Paid Off (Statutory)
20-10-2026TuesdayDasara (Vijayadashami)Gazette / NI ActMandatory / Major State Priority
08-11-2026SundayDiwali Amavasya (Laxmi Pujan)Gazette / NI ActMandatory Paid Off (Sunday Overlap)
10-11-2026TuesdayDiwali (Bali Pratipada)State Gazetted / RegionalMandatory / High Regional Priority
11-11-2026WednesdayBhaubeejState Gazetted / RegionalOptional / Regional Priority
24-11-2026TuesdayGuru Nanak JayantiGazette / NI ActGazetted Public Holiday / Optional
25-12-2026FridayChristmasGazette / NI ActGazetted Public Holiday (Standard Corporate Off)

📋 Employer Compliance Checklist for Maharashtra​

Employers operating in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, and across Maharashtra must comply with the following procedural mandates:

  1. Annual Holiday List Display (Form Q / Notice Board):
    • Under the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments Rules, employers must finalize their list of at least 8 paid holidays and display it conspicuously on notice boards and through the HRMS before the beginning of the calendar year.
  2. Mandatory 4 Core Days:
    • In Maharashtra, four days are strictly non-negotiable: 26th January, 1st May (Maharashtra Day), 15th August, and 2nd October.
  3. Working on a Holiday:
    • If an employee works on any declared paid holiday, the employer must compensate the employee with double the ordinary rate of wages (200%), or provide normal wages accompanied by a paid compensatory off within 30 days.
  4. Intimation to the Facilitator (Labour Officer):
    • Establishments requiring employees to work on a statutory holiday must intimate the local Facilitator / Labour Officer in advance as per state regulations.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)​

1. Is 1st May (Maharashtra Day) a mandatory paid holiday for private companies?​

Yes. Under Maharashtra labour legislation and government gazette notifications, 1st May (Maharashtra Din / International Workers' Day) is a mandatory paid holiday across all commercial shops, offices, IT enterprises, and industrial establishments in Maharashtra.

2. What is the minimum number of paid holidays an employer must provide in Maharashtra?​

Under the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017, employers must provide a minimum of 8 paid holidays per year, which must include the 3 National Holidays and Maharashtra Day.

3. Can an IT company in Pune or Mumbai substitute Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti?​

Yes, provided the company meets the statutory minimum threshold of 8 paid holidays (including 26 Jan, 1 May, 15 Aug, and 2 Oct). Companies may offer Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti either as a mandatory holiday or as a Restricted / Floating Holiday based on internal service agreements.