Puducherry Holiday Calendar 2026: Statutory, Public & Commercial Holidays
In the Union Territory of Puducherry, workplace holidays, industrial leave, and commercial closures are regulated under the Puducherry Shops and Establishments Act, 1964, the Puducherry Industrial Establishments (National and Festival Holidays) Act, 1964, and annual notifications issued by the Department of Revenue and Disaster Management, Government of Puducherry under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
Enterprises across Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam must observe the UT's distinct Franco-Tamil historic milestones—notably De Jure Transfer Day and Puducherry Liberation Day.
Under Section 3 of the Puducherry Industrial Establishments Act, 1964: Every employee is entitled to not less than 8 paid holidays per year, including:
- Republic Day (26 January)
- May Day (1 May)
- Independence Day (15 August)
- Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti (2 October)
- 4 Additional Festival Holidays agreed upon with employees.
📅 Official Puducherry Statutory & Public Holiday Calendar 2026
The following comprehensive schedule reflects the gazetted public holidays, bank closures under the NI Act, and regional festival observances across the Union Territory of Puducherry:
| Date | Day | Holiday / Occasion | Classification | Statutory / Corporate Applicability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01-01-2026 | Thursday | New Year | Gazette / Regional | Yes (Standard Off) |
| 14-01-2026 / 15-01-2026 | Wednesday / Thursday | Pongal | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory / Major Regional Priority (Simpliance: 15-01; HR Deck: 14-01) |
| 15-01-2026 / 16-01-2026 | Thursday / Friday | Thiruvalluvar Day / Mattu Pongal | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory / Major Regional Priority (Simpliance: 16-01; HR Deck: 15-01) |
| 26-01-2026 | Monday | Republic Day | National Holiday | Mandatory Paid Off (Statutory) |
| 20-03-2026 / 21-03-2026 | Friday / Saturday | Ramzan (Id-ul-Fitr) | Gazette / NI Act | Mandatory / Gazetted Public Holiday (Simpliance: 20-03; HR Deck: 21-03) |
| 01-04-2026 | Wednesday | Annual Bank Account Closing | NI Act (Section 25) | Commercial Banks Only |
| 03-04-2026 | Friday | Good Friday | Gazette / NI Act | Gazetted Public Holiday (Corporate Off) |
| 14-04-2026 | Tuesday | Tamil New Year's Day / Dr. Ambedkar's Birthday | State & National Gazette | Mandatory State & National Holiday |
| 15-04-2026 | Wednesday | Vishu 2nd Day (Mahe Region) | Regional Gazetted (Mahe) | Optional / Regional Holiday |
| 01-05-2026 | Friday | May Day | State Mandatory Holiday | Mandatory Paid Off (Sec 3 Mandate) |
| 27-05-2026 / 28-05-2026 | Wednesday / Thursday | Bakrid (Id-ul-Alha) | Gazette / NI Act | Mandatory / Gazetted Public Holiday |
| 25-06-2026 | Thursday | Muharram | Gazette / NI Act | Gazetted Public Holiday / Optional |
| 15-08-2026 | Saturday | Independence Day | National Holiday | Mandatory Paid Off (Statutory) |
| 16-08-2026 | Sunday | De Jure Transfer Day (Puducherry Merger Day) | State Foundation Day | Mandatory State Mandate (Sunday Overlap) |
| 25-08-2026 | Tuesday | Onam 1st Day (Mahe Region) | Regional Gazetted (Mahe) | Optional / Regional Holiday |
| 26-08-2026 / 28-08-2026 | Wednesday / Friday | Milad-Un-Nabi | Gazette / NI Act | Gazetted Public Holiday / Optional (Simpliance: 26-08; HR Deck: 28-08) |
| 14-09-2026 | Monday | Vinayagar Chathurthi | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory / Major Regional Priority |
| 02-10-2026 | Friday | Gandhi Jayanthi | National Holiday | Mandatory Paid Off (Statutory) |
| 15-10-2026 | Thursday | St. Theresa Festival (Mahe Region) | Regional Gazetted (Mahe) | Optional / Regional Holiday |
| 19-10-2026 | Monday | Saraswathi Pooja / Ayudha Pooja | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory / High Regional Priority |
| 20-10-2026 | Tuesday | Vijaya Dasami | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory / High Regional Priority |
| 01-11-2026 | Sunday | Puducherry Liberation Day | State Mandatory Holiday | Mandatory State Mandate (Sunday Overlap) |
| 08-11-2026 | Sunday | Deepavali | Gazette / NI Act | Gazetted Public Holiday (Sunday Overlap) |
| 25-12-2026 | Friday | Christmas | Gazette / NI Act | Mandatory / Corporate Off |
📋 Employer Compliance Checklist for Puducherry
- Submission of Proposed Holidays: Employers must submit proposed festival holidays in Form V to the local Labour Officer before 31st December.
- Display of Notice (Form III): Exhibit the approved holiday list on the workplace notice board by 1st January.
- Double Wages or Comp-Off: Employees required to work on a declared holiday must receive twice the ordinary daily wages (200%), or regular pay plus a paid substitute holiday within 90 days.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is De Jure Transfer Day in Puducherry?
16th August (De Jure Transfer Day) commemorates the historic date in 1962 when the French Parliament ratified the treaty ceding French territories of Pondicherry, Karikal, Mahe, and Yanam to the Republic of India.
2. When is Puducherry Liberation Day celebrated?
Puducherry Liberation Day is celebrated on 1st November, marking the de facto transfer of power from French administration to the Indian Union in 1954.
3. Are there region-specific holidays in Puducherry UT?
Yes. The Union Territory comprises four non-contiguous enclaves. Regions like Mahe observe distinctive regional holidays such as Vishu 2nd Day (15 April), Onam 1st Day (25 August), and the St. Theresa Festival (15 October).