Check the public holidays, festivals, and bank holidays in Maharashtra to schedule your travel, leaves, and holiday plans for cultural events and festivities with confidence.
Last updated on: March 23, 2026
Explore the state’s 2026 schedule of national and local holidays, including bank closures and key regional celebrations that can impact work plans and travel. This overview brings together major public observances and cultural events, with special attention to dates that may form extended weekends. Being aware of these occasions helps with planning leave, arranging trips in advance, and organising family commitments. Note that some festivals based on lunar calendars may shift slightly.
Here you can check the main public holidays for Maharashtra in 2026, covering national days, state-specific festivals and bank holidays. You can use the table below to check for holidays that commonly form long weekends and days that may affect certain services.
| Occasion / Festival | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
Republic Day |
26 January 2026 |
Monday |
Republic Day |
26th January |
Monday |
Mahashivratri |
15 February 2026 |
Sunday |
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti |
19 February 2026 |
Thursday |
Holi (Second Day) |
03 March 2026 |
Tuesday |
Gudhi Padwa |
19 March 2026 |
Thursday |
Ramzan-Id (Id-Ul-Fitra) |
21 March 2026 |
Saturday |
Ram Navami |
26 March 2026 |
Thursday |
Mahavir Janmakalyanak |
31 March 2026 |
Tuesday |
Good Friday |
03 April 2026 |
Friday |
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti |
14 April 2026 |
Tuesday |
Maharashtra Din |
01 May 2026 |
Friday |
Buddha Pournima |
01 May 2026 |
Friday |
Bakri Id (Id-Uz-Zuha) |
28 May 2026 |
Thursday |
Moharum (Muharram) |
26 June 2026 |
Friday |
Independence Day |
15 August 2026 |
Saturday |
Parsi New Year (Shahenshahi) |
15 August 2026 |
Saturday |
Id-E-Milad |
26 August 2026 |
Wednesday |
Ganesh Chaturthi |
14 September 2026 |
Monday |
Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti |
02 October 2026 |
Friday |
Dasara |
20 October 2026 |
Tuesday |
Diwali Amavasya (Laxmi Pujan) |
08 November 2026 |
Sunday |
Diwali (Bali Pratipada) |
10 November 2026 |
Tuesday |
Guru Nanak Jayanti |
24 November 2026 |
Tuesday |
Christmas Day |
25 December 2026 |
Friday |
Knowing about long weekends in 2026 helps you plan short breaks, family visits and local trips while using minimal leave days. Many long weekends in the state of Maharashtra fall around major festivals and national holidays.
| Dates | Days | Occasion / Holiday | Days Off |
|---|---|---|---|
24 to 26 January |
Saturday – Monday |
Republic Day |
3 Days |
3 to 5 April |
Friday – Sunday |
Good Friday & Easter |
3 Days |
1 to 3 May |
Friday – Sunday |
Labour Day / Maharashtra Day |
3 Days |
26 to 28 June |
Friday – Sunday |
Muharram |
3 Days |
14 to 16 August |
Saturday – Monday |
Independence Day |
3 Days |
4 to 6 September |
Friday – Sunday |
Janmashtami |
3 Days |
12 to 14 September |
Saturday – Monday |
Ganesh Chaturthi / Vinayak Chaturthi |
3 Days |
2 to 4 October |
Friday – Sunday |
Mahatma Gandhi Jayanthi |
3 Days |
17 to 20 October |
Saturday – Tuesday |
Dussehra / Vijay Dashami |
4 Days |
7 to 9 November |
Saturday – Monday |
Diwali |
3 Days |
24 to 26 December |
Friday – Sunday |
Christmas |
3 Days |
Maharashtra presents a remarkable mix of natural beauty, historical heritage and cultural vibrancy that makes holidays both exciting and meaningful. Whether you enjoy city life, hill stations, history, beaches or wildlife, there’s something here for every traveller.
Discover the bustling energy of Mumbai, India’s financial and cultural capital. Visit iconic sites like the Gateway of India and Marine Drive, explore colonial heritage buildings and enjoy street food or nightlife for a full city experience.
Head to Aurangabad to see the world-famous Ajanta and Ellora Caves, recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their rock-cut architecture and ancient murals. These sites offer a deep dive into India’s artistic and spiritual history.
Take a break in the Western Ghats at Mahabaleshwar, Lonavala or Khandala, known for lush landscapes, waterfalls, panoramic viewpoints and cool climates — ideal for nature walks, picnics and adventure.
Explore the Konkan coastline with pristine beaches at Alibaug, Ganpatipule or Kashid, where you can relax, swim, take boat rides and soak in sea views. Coastal towns also offer historical forts and cultural attractions.
Experience history and adventure by trekking to forts such as Rajmachi, Raigad or Daulatabad, which offer spectacular views and insights into Maratha history along with physical challenge and scenic trails.
Head to Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve or other natural reserves for wildlife safaris and birdwatching. These protected areas give you a chance to see tigers and other native species in their natural habitat.
From urban exploration and heritage sights to scenic hills and coastlines, Maharashtra’s diversity means there’s always a new experience to enjoy on your holidays.
Planning money early keeps your Maharashtra trip relaxed and prevents last-minute borrowing or budget stress. A clear plan helps you enjoy local sights, boat rides and hill visits without worrying about bills later.
Write down transport, accommodation, food, local travel and activity costs, then add a 10–15% contingency for unexpected spends. Breaking costs into day-wise figures makes it easier to decide where to save and where to splurge.
For bigger expenses like group travel, premium stays or guided packages, a personal loan can spread the cost into manageable EMIs. On Bajaj Markets you can compare unsecured personal loans up to ₹55 Lakhs with interest rates starting at 9.99% p.a. With flexible tenures and easy approvals, this can help you reduce your financial burden both on and after your holiday.
Consider a credit card for hotel bookings and online reservations to keep payments consolidated, and convert large transactions into EMIs. Using travel credit cards can further help you secure privileged benefits like airport lounge access. You can also use the Bajaj Finserv Insta EMI Card to split eligible purchases into fixed instalments across partner stores.
Buy travel insurance that covers medical emergencies, trip cancellation and baggage loss so one incident does not derail your finances. You can compare domestic and international policies and buy suitable cover quickly on Bajaj Markets before departure.
Reviewer
Maharashtra observes several state-specific holidays that reflect its culture and history, such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti (birth anniversary of the Maratha leader), Gudi Padwa (Marathi New Year) and Maharashtra Day (state formation anniversary on 1 May). These are official holidays in Maharashtra but not necessarily public holidays across all Indian states.
Most government offices, courts and schools follow the official state holiday list released by the Maharashtra government. However, some private institutions and organisations may adopt different calendars, observe additional religious or optional holidays, or designate substitute leave days based on internal policies or workforce needs.
In March 2026, several holidays cluster together, including Holi (3 March), Gudi Padwa (19 March), Id-ul-Fitr (21 March) and Ram Navami (26 March). This series of festive dates can create travel and celebration opportunities in the same month.
Yes. Government holidays are official days off announced by the state for all public offices and institutions. Bank holidays include these public holidays plus regular bank closure days such as all second and fourth Saturdays and Sundays, which are specific to banking sector regulations.
Yes, Maharashtra Day on 1 May is an official public holiday that commemorates the formation of the state on that date in 1960 when the Marathi-speaking regions were reorganised. It is celebrated with parades and cultural programmes across the state.
Ganesh Chaturthi is a major cultural festival in Maharashtra with communal celebrations lasting up to 10 days. The official public holiday for all offices is typically observed on the main installation, i.e., the Chaturthi day itself, with festivities continuing at home and in communities beyond that.