List of Holidays in India (2023) to Plan Your Trips Ahead

India boasts a diverse culture, with each state having their own customs, traditions and festivals. Throughout the year, people enthusiastically come together to celebrate new seasons, gods and goddesses, saints and historical events. But with so many festivals, having a calendar at hand is necessary for holiday planning.Here, we have provided a detailed list of holidays in India in 2023̣. It includes the days, dates and the states that will be observing the holidays to help you formulate better plans.

2023 Holiday Calendar: Public and Government Holidays

The following is a list of all public and government holidays in different states for the year 2023:

1. List of Holidays in India in January 2023

January 2023 is the first month of the new year. There are quite a few holidays in January 2023 – some are state-specific while some are national holidays – you can mark in your calendar. While Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti calls for a holiday mostly in the eastern states of India, Republic Day (26th January) is a national holiday. So, note down the list of occasions in January 2023 by referring to the table below and plan accordingly.

2. List of Holidays in India in February 2023

There are quite a few state-specific regional holidays in February 2023. From Guru Ravidas Jayanti to Maha Shiv Ratri, you have some festival or the other to participate in. Refer to the list of holidays in February as given in the table below and plan your trips ahead.

3. List of Holidays in India in March 2023

From Holi to Ugadi, there are plenty of festivals and holidays in March 2023. Also, Holi is on a Tuesday (in most parts of India), that means you can enjoy a long weekend if you can manage taking the day off on Monday. We all need a bit of respite from time to time, so why not have the much needed break in March?

4. List of Holidays in India in April 2023

April has something for everyone. Participate in Bengali and Malayali New Year festivities or immerse yourself in the unique Bihu festival of Assam. Refer to the April 2023 holiday calendar below and book your trips early. Welcome the onset of summer with some of the biggest cultural festivals. of India.

5. List of Holidays in India in May 2023

May Day falls on a Monday – that means another long weekend to spend time with your friends and family! If you’re in Kolkata, don’t miss Rabindranath Tagore’s birth anniversary celebrations in Shantiniketan. Check out the list of holidays in May 2023 below to plan your trips better. Bon Voyage!

6. List of Holidays in India in June 2023

Travelling to Odisha in June? Don’t miss the Rath Yatra celebrations! Other than that, June has a few state-specific holidays and festivals to check out. Refer to the list of holidays in June 2023 as mentioned in the list below and tick the ones that fit your travel plans. On a side note, you have already reached the first half of 2023 – isn’t that awesome?

7. List of Holidays in India in July 2023

July has a lesser number of holidays compared to other months. But there are state-specific holidays worth checking out. In case you are getting restless for a mid-year trip, travel irrespective of the holidays. Anyway, we have listed down holidays in July 2023. Check if any of the dates or festivals interest you.

8. List of Holidays in India in August 2023

It’s our Independence Day  month and this time 15th August is on Tuesday. This means you can take Monday off and make it a long weekend so that you can travel or spend time with your friends and families. Monsoons are a great time to visit South India. Plan and book your tickets early to avoid the rush.

9. List of Holidays in India in September 2023

The holiday season is almost here. September is the time when people go out shopping because the next few months are when celebrations galore all over India. We have listed down holidays in September 2023 so that you can mark the dates and go out shopping with your friends or family. 

10. List of Holidays in India in October 2023

Well, this time Gandhi Jayanti is on a Monday – another long weekend! What better way to welcome the season of festivities? Also, it’s Durga Puja time! Relish Bengali cuisines and delectables and watch people celebrate the month with pomp and gusto. One tip: if you are planning to travel to Kolkata to witness the celebrations, book your flight tickets early!

11. List of Holidays in India in November 2023

Diwali is finally here! Shop, travel and enjoy the festival of lights with your friends and family. We have listed the holidays in November 2023 for your reference. Also, it’s the 11th month of the year, just one more month and we would be bidding goodbye to 2023. Surreal!

12. List of Holidays in India in December 2023

The month when Santa Claus comes to town. This is the month to reflect, introspect and ponder so that you can make the next year even better. Millions of Indians travel during this time of the year, so book your tickets and plan your trip early to avoid the rush. Hope to see you in the same joyous mood in the next year too!

National Holidays in 2023

The table below provides a list of gazetted holidays in India in 2023: 

Top Popular Festivals in India

Provided below are the details of the most popular festivals in India: 

1. Holi – Festival of Colours

Holi, also known as the festival of colours, is celebrated across India. Initially, it was a Hindu festival with people celebrating the divine love of Radha and Krishna. Holika Dahan, or the burning of the demoness Holika also occupies an important position in this festival. It signifies the victory of good over evil.

On the eve of Holi, people light a bonfire and pray for the destruction of evil. They play with colours, water guns and water-filled balloons on the following day. In 2023, people will celebrate this joyous occasion on March 30. 

2. Durga Puja and Navratri

Durga Puja and Navratri is an important Hindu festival that celebrates Goddess Durga in all her forms and her victory against the demon Mahishasura. Though both Durga Puja and Navratri celebrate Goddess Durga, they have differences. While Navratri is mainly celebrated in northern and western parts of India, Durga Puja is the most important festival in the eastern states.

Devotees wear new clothes, offer prayers and greet others to mark the occasion. In 2023, this festival will commence in the third week of October.

3. Diwali – Festival of Lights 

Diwali is an important Hindu festival which signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. People offer special prayers, illuminate their homes with diyas and candles and burst firecrackers to mark the occasion. While many people in north India worship Goddess Lakshmi for wealth and prosperity, in many parts of east India, Goddess Kali is worshipped on this day. 

Diwali is a public holiday in most parts of India. The celebrations will take place on November 12.

4. Janmashtami

Lord Krishna’s birth is celebrated as Janmashtami, a major Hindu festival where devotees fast, offer prayers and sing bhajans in praise of the Lord. Temples are decorated with flowers, and children are dressed up as Krishna and Radha to participate in spiritual dance dramas.

Dahi handi is an entertaining competition associated with Janmashtami. A clay pot is filled with curd, butter, ghee and nuts and hung on a rope at a certain height. Young people form human pyramids, and one person reaches the top to break the clay pot. Janmashtami will be celebrated on September 7 this year.

5. Ganesh Chaturthi

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated as a public holiday in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka, and it is also referred to as Vinayaka Chaturthi. Devotees believe that worshipping Lord Ganesha will remove obstacles in their lives, and thus, His name is invoked before beginning any important work.

Though this festival has been celebrated since the time of Shivaji, the freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak converted this private event into a grand public festival where people of all castes join in. This year, Ganesh Chaturthi falls on September 19. 

6. Eid-ul-Fitr 

Eid-ul-Fitr is an important Muslim holiday which marks the end of the month-long fasting period of Ramadan. Muslims believe that the holy Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad during Ramadan. Muslims hold a fast from dusk to dawn during this period and get together with their friends and family to break their fast with a sumptuous meal after sunset.

On Eid-ul-Fitr, people offer special prayers, wear new clothes and greet others. Special dishes are prepared in every Muslim household. In 2023, Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated on April 22.

7. Christmas 

Christmas is the most important festival of Christians, and it is celebrated by people worldwide with equal excitement on December 25. It marks the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe to be the Son of God. ‘Christmas’ comes from the phrase ‘Mass of Christ’. People celebrate Christmas by decorating a Christmas tree and illuminating their homes with special Christmas lights.

Some of the delicacies people consume during Christmas in India are plum cakes and marzipan. In 2023, Christmas falls on a Monday.

8. Guruparb 

Guruparb is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev. People offer special prayers at gurdwaras, exchange greetings with others and decorate their homes. Two days before the Guruparb, Akhand Path takes place at gurdwaras. It is a 48-hour continuous recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib. 

Devotees also carry out processions and conduct langars (free food service) as a part of the festivities. In 2023, Guruparb will be celebrated on Monday, November 27.

Final Word

India is a highly diverse country, there are numerous holidays throughout the year in the event of various major festivals of different cultures, religions and states. If you are looking to learn about the upcoming public holidays, make sure to refer to the 2023 holiday calendar stated above.

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Disclaimer

This article is solely for educational purposes. Navi doesn't take any responsibility for the information or claims made in the blog.

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