March 2026 holidays in India: When schools, banks and offices will remain closed in India; check the full
As March begins, schools and colleges across India are preparing for multiple holiday closures linked to major religious, cultural and regional festivals. Academic calendars released by different states and educational institutions indicate several non-teaching days scheduled throughout the month. Festivals such as Holi, Eid al-Fitr, Ram Navami, Mahavir Jayanti, Dola Jatra, Ugadi and Gudi Guri Padwa are among the key observances taking place in March 2026. The exact holiday dates vary from state to state depending on local traditions, government notifications and education board schedules.
March 2026 School Holidays
Holi and related closures
Holi will be celebrated on March 4, and schools and colleges in many states will remain closed on the day. Uttar Pradesh is expected to witness one of the longest breaks, with institutions observing a three-day holiday around the festival.
Besides Uttar Pradesh, states such as Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Delhi will also close educational institutions for Holi celebrations. In some regions, authorities have announced a two-day holiday. March 2 has been declared a holiday in Uttar Pradesh for Holika Dahan.
Eid al-Fitr and Ramadan schedule
Ramadan began on February 19. Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of fasting, is likely to be observed on March 21, depending on the sighting of the moon. Schools and colleges across the country are expected to remain closed on that day.
Ram Navami school closure date
Ram Navami will be observed on March 26. Educational institutions in many states traditionally declare a holiday on this occasion, which is marked by religious events and community celebrations.
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Mahavir Jayanti school closed
Mahavir Jayanti will fall on March 31 and is usually observed as a public holiday in several states. On this day, government offices and educational institutions typically remain closed.
Gudi Guri Padwa schools closed
Meanwhile, Ugadi, Gudi Guri Padwa and Chaitra Navratri will be celebrated on March 19 in states including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Schools and colleges in these states are likely to remain closed in accordance with official state notifications.
March 2026 Bank Holidays
In March, banks across different parts of India will remain closed on various dates due to regional festivals and state-specific observances. The schedule of closures varies depending on local celebrations and official holiday notifications.
March 2, 2026: Banks in Uttar Pradesh will remain closed on account of Holika Dahan.
March 3, 2026: Banks will be shut in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Goa, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya and Himachal Pradesh for Holi celebrations.
March 4, 2026: Banks in Tripura, Gujarat, Mizoram, Odisha, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya and Himachal Pradesh will remain closed for the second day of Holi festivities.
March 13, 2026: Banks in Mizoram will remain closed for the Chapchar Kut festival.
March 17, 2026: Banks in Jammu & Kashmir will remain shut to observe Shab-I-Qadr.
March 19, 2026: Banks in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir, Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, as well as Srinagar, will be closed to mark Gudhi Padwa, Ugadi Festival, Telugu New Year, Sajibu Nongmapanba (Cheiraoba) and the first day of Navratra.
March 20, 2026: Banks in Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Srinagar and Andhra Pradesh will remain closed for Eid-Ul-Fitr (Ramzan) and Jumat-ul-Vida.
March 21, 2026: Banks will remain closed in Assam, Gujarat, Mizoram, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Nagaland, West Bengal, Delhi, Goa, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya and Srinagar to observe Ramzan-Id (Id-Ul-Fitr).
March 26, 2026: Banks in Mizoram, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai, Nagpur, Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh will remain closed for Shree Ram Navami.
Despite these closures, digital banking services such as ATMs, UPI, online banking and mobile banking apps will continue to operate as usual. Customers will still be able to carry out fund transfers, pay bills and complete other routine financial transactions without disruption.
Public Office Holidays in March 2026
Government offices across India will remain closed on several dates in March 2026 due to major national and regional festivals. The exact holidays may vary by state depending on local observances and government notifications.
March 2, 2026 — Holika Dahan
Government offices in Uttar Pradesh are expected to remain closed for Holika Dahan, the ritual that marks the beginning of Holi celebrations.
March 3–4, 2026 — Holi
Many states across India will observe public holidays for Holi. Government offices are likely to remain closed in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal and others. In some regions, a two-day holiday may be observed.
March 19, 2026 — Regional New Year Festivals
Offices in several states may remain closed to mark regional festivals including:
- Ugadi (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka)
- Gudi Padwa (Maharashtra, Goa)
- Sajibu Nongmapanba / Cheiraoba (Manipur)
- First day of Chaitra Navratri
