Srinagar, Dec 13 — The Jammu and Kashmir administration has notified the list of public holidays for 2026 to be observed in government offices and educational institutions across the Union Territory. The order covers gazetted, provincial, local and restricted holidays, accommodating diverse religious and cultural observances.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, Government Order No. 1894-JK(GAD) of 2025, issued by the General Administration Department on December 12, specifies 28 gazetted holidays in Annexure A. These include Republic Day on January 26, a Monday; Independence Day on August 15, a Saturday; and Diwali on November 8, a Sunday. Muslim holidays such as Shab-i-Miraj on January 17, Eid-ul-Fitr on March 21 and Eid-ul-Azha on May 27 are subject to moon sighting.
The order notes Mahashivratri on February 15, a Sunday; Baisakhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s birthday on April 14, a Tuesday; and Christmas on December 25, a Friday. Accession Day falls on October 26, a Monday, while Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birthday is on January 5, a Monday.
Annexure B outlines provincial holidays for Kashmir and Jammu divisions. Kashmir Province holidays include the Friday following Shab-i-Miraj on January 23, a Friday; Urs Shah-i-Hamdan Sahib on May 23, a Saturday; Mela Khir Bhawani on June 22, a Monday; and Urs Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Sahib on October 8, a Thursday. Jammu Province holidays cover Lohri on January 13, a Tuesday; Shri Guru Ravi Das’s birthday on February 1, a Sunday; and Holi on March 4, a Wednesday.
Local holidays are region-specific. In Jammu District, Mela Bahu Fort is on March 26, a Thursday; Mahavir Jayanti on March 31, a Tuesday; and Good Friday on April 3, a Friday. Kishtwar District observes Urs Shah Farid-ud-Din Sahib on June 21, a Sunday, and Sarthal Devi Ji Yatra on July 21 and 22, Tuesday and Wednesday. Tehsil Bhaderwah and Tehsil Bhalla mark Kailash Yatra on September 9 and 10, Wednesday and Thursday, and Mela Pat on September 18 and 19, Friday and Saturday. Urs Shah Asrar-ud-Din Sahib applies to Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban districts on November 10, a Tuesday.
Restricted holidays include Parshuram Jayanti on April 19, a Sunday, in Jammu Province; Martyr’s Day of Guru Arjun Dev Ji on June 16, a Tuesday; Kabir Jayanti on June 29, a Monday, in Jammu Province; and Raksha Bandhan on August 28, a Friday.
The order, signed by Commissioner/Secretary M. Raju IAS, directs observance by all departments and institutions. Copies were forwarded to chief secretaries of states and Union Territories, the Department of Personnel and Training in New Delhi, and local officials including Divisional Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners. Hindi and Urdu versions will follow.
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