List of Holidays in May 2023

Holidays offer a much-needed break from the everyday hustle and bustle. They are also a great way to reconnect with family and friends. In India, you’ll see that there are a number of holidays, both regional and national as India has a rich and varied cultural history and diversity. Read on to know more about holidays in India! The month of May is especially great for holidays, given the warm and pleasant weather. 

The month of May brings with it a number of regional holidays as well as two national holidays as given below:

Both public and private banks operating in the country will remain closed on bank holidays as indicated in the table below in the month of May 2023. These days are in addition to the regular bank holidays i.e., the second and fourth Saturdays of every month.

• May Day

May Day is celebrated as an ancient Northern Hemisphere spring festival. It was also chosen as the date for International Workers Day in the late 19th century. Therefore, International Workers' Day can also be referred to as "May Day", but it is a different celebration from the traditional May Day. In India, the day is also known as Labour Day. This holiday is observed to honour and celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of labourers and workers across the country. 

• Buddha Purnima

Buddha Purnima marks the birth anniversary of Gautam Budhha, the founder of Buddhism. To celebrate Buddha Purnima, people having their faith in Buddhism gather at a place of worship before the sun rises and perform various prayers and dances, physical exercises, and marches. Also, many Buddhist temples host festivals in which people of all ages can participate.

• Guru Rabindranath Jayanti

Guru Rabindranath Jayanti is celebrated on account of the birth anniversary of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. It is celebrated in the month of May, on the 25th day of the Bengali calendar month—Boishakh. Rabindranath Tagore is renowned for his poems, short stories, songs, etc. Some of his notable works include Gitanjali, Kabuliwallah, Postmaster, etc.

• Sikkim State Day

The Sikkim State Day is celebrated on 16th May, it marks the day when Sikkim became the 22nd Indian state. Sikkim has a very low population and is the second smallest Indian state. Post-independence, Sikkim continued to have protectorate status within India. In 1975, the growing disturbance against the rule of the Chogyal, led to the Indian military deposing the Chogyal, thereby ending the monarchy. A survey was then held in which 97.5% of voters supported the abolition of the monarchy. Thus, Sikkim became the 22nd Indian state.

• Birthday of Kazi Nazrul Islam

Kazi Nazrul Islam was a Bengali poet. Popularly known as Nazrul, his numerous contributions include several pieces of poetry and music that explored themes such as humanity, love and freedom. His writings greatly played a pivotal role in inspiring the Bengalis of East Pakistan during the Bangladesh Liberation War. His birthday will be celebrated on 25th May 2023 to pay homage to his contributions to society.

• Maharana Pratap Jayanti

Maharana Pratap Jayanti is celebrated in memory of Maharana Pratap Singh, a Rajput king of Mewar. Maharana Pratap is known to be a true patriot who played a crucial role in the first war of independence. He fought alongside Akbar in the battle of Haldighati.

Each holiday in India has a cultural or historical significance. To celebrate and witness them closely, you may visit the places that celebrate these festivals more traditionally. Here are a few destinations you can visit during public holidays May 2023:

• Himachal Pradesh

The month of May is the summertime in India. Therefore, to escape the heat, you can consider planning a trip to Himachal Pradesh. Places like Khajjiar, Shimla, Manali, and Kasauli are some of the most popular tourist destinations. The weather in May is pleasant with a mountain breeze and snowfall in the high altitudes.

• Mount Abu

This hill station in Rajasthan is a perfect destination to visit during May. Several lakes, green forests, rivers, and waterfalls, make Mount Abu a preferred destination to visit during summers. Some of the other major tourist attractions of Mount Abu are Abu Road, Achalgarh Village, Guru Shikhar, Adhar Devi Temple, and the Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary.

• Kashmir

Witnessing the mesmerising beauty of Kashmir can be a perfect getaway for you in the month of May. Beautiful valleys, lakes, breathtaking mountains, etc. make Kashmir one of the most popular spots for a holiday visit in summer.

• Meghalaya

Meghalaya is known for its attractive mountains. Moreover, the pleasant weather of Meghalaya in the summer season attracts tourists from various parts of the country. The capital of Meghalaya, Shillong, is a beautiful city.

• Ooty

Ooty, a popular hill station that is known for its tea and coffee plantation. It’s the best place to visit during the May holidays of 2023. Ooty Lake and the beautiful Government Botanical Garden are some good places that you can consider visiting with your loved ones in the month of May.

• Saturday, 29 April

• Sunday, 30 April

• Monday, 1 May - May Day

 

• Friday, 5 May - Buddha Purnima

• Saturday, 6 May

• Sunday, 7 May

 

• Saturday, 20 May

• Sunday, 21 May

• Monday, 22 May - Maharana Pratap Jayanti

   

This page showcases the list of holidays in May 2023 and their cultural background and importance. May also contains three long weekend holidays that you can take advantage of. If you are thinking of going on a trip during this pleasant time of summer, you should start planning now. In order to do so, you may go for a personal loan for travel on Bajaj Markets to fund your trip without any worries. What are you waiting for, your holiday dates are already in front of you!