The Revenue and Disaster Management Department of the Odisha government has released the calendar for 2026, declaring a total of 29 general holidays for state government offices and Magistrate Courts (Executive). In addition, state government employees will have access to 9 optional holidays, along with an extra day off following Nuakhai.
According to the department’s notification, these holidays cover various festivals and commemorative days, during which government offices and courts will remain closed. The list includes Makar Sankranti (January 14), Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti/Basanta Panchami (January 23), Republic Day (January 26), Dola Purnima (March 3), Holi (March 4), Id-ul-Fitr (March 21), Sri Rama Navami (March 27), Utkala Divas (April 1), Good Friday (April 3), Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti/Maha Bishuba Sankranti (April 14), Buddha Purnima (May 1), Savitri Amavasya (May 16), Id-ul-Zuha (May 27), Raja Sankranti (June 15), Muharram (June 26), Rath Yatra (July 16), Independence Day (August 15), Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (August 26), Jhulan Purnima (August 27), Janmashtami (September 4), Ganesh Puja (September 14), Nuakhai (September 15), Day after Nuakhai (September 16), Gandhi Jayanti (October 2), Maha Saptami (October 17), Maha Navami (October 19), Vijaya Dashami (October 20), Ras Purnima (November 24), and Christmas (December 25).
Annexure-2 outlines the optional holidays, which include Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday (January 6), Shab-e-Qadr (March 17), Easter Saturday (April 4), Raja Rammohan Roy’s Birthday (May 22), Bahuda Yatra (July 24), Foundation Day of Brahma Samaj (August 20), Anla Navami (November 18), Prathamastami (December 1), and Christmas Eve (December 24). Employees, regardless of religion, can choose any one day from this list as an optional holiday, subject to written approval from the competent authority for casual leave.
Annexure-3 notes that six holidays—Maha Shivaratri (February 15), Pahili Raja (June 14), Mahalaya (October 10), Maha Ashtami (October 18), Kumar Purnima (October 25), and Diwali (November 8)—fall on Sundays or second/fourth Saturdays, and thus are not declared as separate holidays. Specifically, Mahalaya falls on a second Saturday. This holiday list has been issued under the orders of the Governor.
