Sikkim Holiday Calendar 2026: Losoong, Saga Dawa, Public & Commercial Holidays
In Sikkim, public, commercial, and industrial workplace holidays are regulated under the Sikkim Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1983, the Factories Act, 1948, and annual notifications issued by the Home Department, Government of Sikkim under Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.
Enterprises in Gangtok (service & administrative hub), Rangpo, Singtam (pharma manufacturing corridor), and Namchi structure their annual holiday rosters around Buddhist, Bhutia, Lepcha, and Nepali cultural festivals—foremost among them Losoong/Namsoong, Saga Dawa, Pang Lhabsol, and Dasain/Tihar.
Under the Sikkim Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, employers must provide a minimum of 8 paid holidays per year, including the 3 National Holidays and approved regional cultural holidays.
📅 Official Sikkim Statutory & Public Holiday Calendar 2026
The following comprehensive schedule reflects the gazetted public holidays, bank closures under the NI Act, and regional ethnic festival observances across Sikkim:
| Date | Day | Holiday / Occasion | Classification | Statutory / Corporate Applicability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01-01-2026 | Thursday | New Year's Day | Gazette / Regional | Yes (Corporate Off) |
| 14-01-2026 / 15-01-2026 | Wednesday / Thursday | Maghe Sankranti | State Gazetted / Regional | Yes (High Regional Priority) (Simpliance: 15-01; HR Deck: 14-01) |
| 19-01-2026 | Monday | Sonam Lochhar / Losar | State Gazetted / Regional | Major Cultural Mandate |
| 26-01-2026 | Monday | Republic Day | National Holiday | Mandatory Paid Off (Statutory) |
| 18-02-2026 / 19-02-2026 | Wednesday / Thursday | Losar (Tibetan New Year) | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory / Major Cultural Mandate (Simpliance: 18-02; HR Deck: 19-02) |
| 26-02-2026 | Thursday | Akhil Sikkim Khas Chettri Bahun Kalyan Sangh Foundation Day | Restricted Observance | Optional / Floating Holiday |
| 03-03-2026 | Tuesday | Holi | Gazette / NI Act | Yes (Major State Priority) |
| 20-03-2026 / 21-03-2026 | Friday / Saturday | Id-ul-Fitr (Subject to Moon Sighting) | Gazette / NI Act | Optional / Gazetted Holiday (Simpliance: 20-03; HR Deck: 21-03) |
| 01-04-2026 | Wednesday | Annual Closing of Bank Accounts | 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 | Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Jayanti | State & National Gazette | Mandatory State & National Holiday |
| 16-05-2026 | Saturday | Sikkim State Day (Statehood Day) | State Foundation Day | Mandatory / Major State Mandate |
| 28-05-2026 | Thursday | Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) (Subject to Moon Sighting) | Gazette / NI Act | Optional / Gazetted Holiday |
| 02-06-2026 / 04-06-2026 | Tuesday / Thursday | Saga Dawa | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory / Major Buddhist Festival (Simpliance: 04-06; HR Deck: 02-06) |
| 15-06-2026 | Monday | Bhanu Jayanti | State Gazetted / Regional | Major Nepali Cultural Holiday |
| 09-07-2026 | Thursday | Guru Purnima | Restricted Observance | Optional / Floating Holiday |
| 15-08-2026 | Saturday | Independence Day | National Holiday | Mandatory Paid Off (Statutory) |
| 17-08-2026 | Monday | Tendong Lho-Rum-Faat (Tizong Lho-Rum-Faat) | State Gazetted / Regional (Lepcha) | Major Indigenous Festival |
| 26-08-2026 | Wednesday | Indrajatra / Pang Lhabsol | State Gazetted / Regional | Major State Cultural Priority |
| 02-09-2026 | Wednesday | Pang Lhabsol (Worship of Mt. Khangchendzonga) | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory State Pride Holiday |
| 04-09-2026 | Friday | Janmashtami | Restricted Observance | Optional / Floating Holiday |
| 18-09-2026 | Friday | Kagyed Dance | Monastic Festival / Regional | Optional / Floating Holiday |
| 25-09-2026 to 28-09-2026 | Friday to Monday | Dasain Festive Block (Phulpati to Vijaya Dashami) | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory / Major State Festive Block |
| 02-10-2026 | Friday | Gandhi Jayanti | National Holiday | Mandatory Paid Off (Statutory) |
| 13-10-2026 | Tuesday | Tihar / Laxmi Puja | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory / Major State Priority |
| 16-10-2026 | Friday | Bhatri Dwitiya (Bhai Tika) | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory / High Regional Priority |
| 18-10-2026 | Sunday | Durga Puja / Dasain (Maha Ashtami) | State Gazetted / Regional | Optional / Sunday Overlap |
| 19-10-2026 | Monday | Durga Puja / Dasain (Maha Navami) | State Gazetted / Regional | High Regional Priority |
| 20-10-2026 | Tuesday | Vijaya Dashami (Dasain) | State Gazetted / Regional | Major State Festival |
| 02-11-2026 | Monday | All Souls' Day | Restricted Observance | Optional / Floating Holiday |
| 08-11-2026 | Sunday | Diwali | Gazette / NI Act | Gazetted Public Holiday (Sunday Overlap) |
| 10-11-2026 | Tuesday | Bhai Tika | State Gazetted / Regional | Optional / Regional Holiday |
| 24-11-2026 | Tuesday | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Gazette / NI Act | Optional / Floating Holiday |
| 10-12-2026 | Thursday | Lhabab Dhuechen | Buddhist Observance / Gazetted | Major Buddhist Holiday |
| 10-12-2026 / 11-12-2026 | Thursday / Friday | Losoong / Namsoong (Sikkimese New Year - Days 1 & 2) | State Gazetted / Regional | Mandatory / Major State Festival |
| 15-12-2026 | Tuesday | Chasok Tongnam (Limboo Festival) | State Gazetted / Regional | Optional / Cultural Observance |
| 16-12-2026 | Wednesday | Nyengpa Guzom | State Gazetted / Regional | Optional / Traditional Observance |
| 23-12-2026 | Wednesday | Puhgal Parim / Teyongsi Sirijunga Sawan Tongnam | State Gazetted / Regional | Optional / Cultural Holiday |
| 25-12-2026 | Friday | Christmas | Gazette / NI Act | Gazetted Public Holiday (Corporate Off) |
| 28-12-2026 | Monday | Barahimizong | Restricted / Manger Festival | Optional / Tribal Observance |
| 30-12-2026 | Wednesday | Tamu Lochar (Gurung New Year) | State Gazetted / Regional | Major Cultural Mandate |
📋 Employer Compliance Checklist for Sikkim
- Annual Notice of Holidays: Exhibit the approved holiday list on workplace notice boards by 1st January.
- Weekly Day of Rest: Provide one full day of weekly rest to all workers under the Sikkim Shops & Commercial Establishments Act.
- Double Wages or Comp-Off: Provide double wages (200%), or regular pay plus a paid compensatory off within 30 days to employees who work on a declared holiday.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is Pang Lhabsol in Sikkim?
Pang Lhabsol is an exclusive Sikkimese cultural festival commemorating the historic blood brotherhood pact between the Lepcha and Bhutia communities and offering homage to Mount Khangchendzonga as the guardian deity of Sikkim. It is an official gazetted public holiday.
2. What are Losoong and Namsoong?
Losoong (Bhutia New Year) and Namsoong (Lepcha New Year) mark the end of the harvest season and the traditional new year in Sikkim, celebrated with Chaam mask dances at major monasteries.