Holidays in December 2026 India – Complete List + Christmas, New Year & Year-End Guide for Delhi NCR

December 2026 is the month that closes the year — and it does it properly.

Christmas on a Friday. That single fact reshapes the entire end of the month. A gazetted public holiday on Friday 25 December, followed by Saturday 26 (the 4th Saturday — banks closed), followed by Sunday 27 — gives you a natural 3-day Christmas weekend without taking a single day of leave. Take Thursday 24 as casual leave and you have 4 consecutive days of Christmas to Krismas. The best Christmas window India has seen in years.

And that's before you account for everything else December brings. Vijay Diwas on 16 December — India's most decisive military victory, remembered with solemnity and pride. Guru Ghasidas Jayanti on Friday 18 December in Chhattisgarh. Goa Liberation Day on Saturday 19 December — one of India's most underappreciated patriotic occasions. A North-East India packed with regional celebrations. And New Year's Eve on Thursday 31 December — the unofficial close of the Indian festive calendar.

December is also the month when working professionals scramble to use their remaining earned leaves before the financial year resets, when corporate year-end parties hit peak demand, and when every school in Delhi NCR needs an Annual Day or Christmas program. It is the busiest event month after November.

This is your complete guide to every holiday in December 2026 in India — every confirmed date, every meaning, every long weekend mapped, and how to make the year's final month genuinely count.

If you're in Delhi NCR and you want year-end celebrations, Christmas events, school Annual Days, or corporate parties that people actually remember — Born To Banger creates premium event experiences right through December.

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December 2026 Holidays: Full List at a Glance

Note: Christmas Day (25 December) is a Gazetted Public Holiday across India — universally observed. All other dates are state-specific, regional, or restricted holidays. Feast days, Liberation Day, and regional observances apply only to their respective states. Always verify with your state government's official notification and RBI circulars.

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Long Weekends in December 2026 — Every Window Mapped

December 2026 delivers two clean long weekends — one mid-month and one at Christmas. Both are worth planning around.

Long Weekend 1 — Guru Ghasidas Jayanti + Weekend (18–20 December)

Friday 18 December (Guru Ghasidas Jayanti — state holiday, Chhattisgarh) → Saturday 19 December (Goa Liberation Day + 3rd Saturday) → Sunday 20 December

For those in Chhattisgarh — a clean 3-day break on the back of a Friday state holiday. For the rest of India: this is the last full working week before Christmas, and Friday 18 + Saturday 19 forms a natural pre-Christmas mini-break. A pre-Christmas party, year-end family gathering, or office celebration fits perfectly here.

Long Weekend 2 — Christmas (25–27 December) ⭐ The Big One

Thursday 24 December (Christmas Eve — take casual leave or half-day) → Friday 25 December (Christmas Day — Gazetted Holiday) → Saturday 26 December (4th Saturday — banks closed) → Sunday 27 December

Christmas on a Friday is the setup everyone wants. A gazetted holiday on Friday means the entire country gets a 3-day break — Saturday and Sunday follow automatically. Take Thursday 24 as casual leave (or use a pending earned leave before year-end) and you have 4 days from Christmas Eve to Sunday evening.

For Delhi NCR families, this is the year to actually plan Christmas — not improvise it. A decorated home, a proper Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas morning together, and the gift of time. Four days of it.

Year-End Leave Window (28–31 December)

Monday 28 → Tuesday 29 → Wednesday 30 → Thursday 31 December (New Year's Eve)

This isn't a declared holiday window — but it is the most-used leave period of the entire year. December is when professionals exhaust their remaining earned leaves before the financial year resets. The week between Christmas and New Year (28–31 December) sees some of the lowest office attendance of the year across corporate India. If you have leave balance, this is the week to use it — 4 days of leave + the Christmas weekend = a 9-day year-end break from 24 December to 1 January 2027.

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Every December 2026 Holiday — What It Means and How to Make It Count

Feast of St. Francis Xavier — Thursday, 3 December 2026

What it is: The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is observed in Goa on 3 December every year — the death anniversary of Saint Francis Xavier, the 16th-century Jesuit missionary who brought Christianity to large parts of South and East Asia. Born in Spain in 1506, he arrived in Goa in 1542 and spent the next decade evangelising across India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Japan, and beyond before dying on a Chinese island in 1552.

St. Francis Xavier's remains are enshrined in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa — one of the most visited Christian pilgrimage sites in Asia. Every 10 years, his body is brought out for public veneration (the last major Exposition was in 2024). On 3 December each year, tens of thousands of pilgrims gather at the Basilica for a novena (9-day prayer) that culminates in the feast day.

Official status: State holiday in Goa. Banks and government offices in Goa close. Major pilgrimage event at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa.

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Indian Navy Day — Friday, 4 December 2026

What it is: Indian Navy Day is observed every year on 4 December — commemorating the launch of Operation Trident on this date in 1971, when the Indian Navy's missile boats struck Karachi harbour during the India-Pakistan War, sinking Pakistani naval vessels and fuel storage facilities in one of the most decisive naval operations in the subcontinent's history. The operation directly contributed to Pakistan's surrender and the liberation of Bangladesh.

How it's observed:

• Naval parades, fly-pasts, and exhibitions at naval bases, primarily in Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Kochi, and Karwar
• The President and Defence Minister pay tributes to naval personnel
• Wreath-laying at naval war memorials
• Open ship days at select naval bases — the public can board naval vessels

Not a public holiday — offices and schools remain open nationwide.

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Armed Forces Flag Day — Sunday, 7 December 2026

What it is: Armed Forces Flag Day has been observed every year on 7 December since 1949 — a national initiative to collect funds from the public for the welfare of serving soldiers, veterans, and their families. Small flags (representing the tricolour and the three service flags) are distributed in exchange for donations.

How it's observed:

• Fund collection drives by the Kendriya Sainik Board and Rajya Sainik Boards
• Cultural programs and exhibitions at cantonments and service institutions
• School and college events promoting awareness about the armed forces

Falls on Sunday in 2026 — no weekday holiday impact.

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Feast of the Immaculate Conception — Tuesday, 8 December 2026

What it is: A Roman Catholic holy day of obligation observed on 8 December, celebrating the belief that the Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin. In Goa, where the Catholic community is significant and the Church's presence is deep-rooted in the state's Portuguese colonial history, this is a state public holiday.

The feast is observed with special masses at churches across Goa — the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Panaji (one of Goa's most photographed landmarks) holds a grand feast-day celebration.

Official status: State holiday in Goa. Banks in Goa close.

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Vijay Diwas — Wednesday, 16 December 2026

What it is: Vijay Diwas — Victory Day — marks 16 December 1971, the day Pakistani forces in East Pakistan surrendered to the Indian Army, ending the 13-day India-Pakistan War and leading to the creation of the independent nation of Bangladesh. It was the largest military surrender since World War II — over 93,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered to the Indian Armed Forces.

In 2026, this is the 55th anniversary of the victory.

Why it matters: Vijay Diwas is one of the most significant moments in independent India's military history. General Sam Manekshaw's leadership, the combined operation of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, and India's diplomatic positioning under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi created the conditions for a decisive, rapid victory that reshaped the map of South Asia.

How it's observed:

• Wreath-laying ceremonies at India Gate, the National War Memorial, and war memorials across the country
• Tributes paid to the Veer Naris (widows of fallen soldiers) and veterans of the 1971 war
• Parades and military displays in garrison towns
• School programs and essay competitions on the 1971 war

Not a declared public holiday — offices and schools remain open. It is a day of solemn national remembrance.

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Guru Ghasidas Jayanti — Friday, 18 December 2026

What it is: Guru Ghasidas Jayanti marks the birth anniversary of Guru Ghasidas — born on 18 December 1756 in Girodpuri, Chhattisgarh. Guru Ghasidas was the founder of the Satnami movement — a spiritual and social reform movement within Hinduism that rejected the caste system, idol worship, and the oppression of lower-caste communities, building instead a community based on the principle of Satnam (Truth is the Name of God).

His teachings drew parallels with Buddhism and early Sikhism — a philosophy of universal equality, non-violence, and direct devotion to truth without intermediary ritual or priestly hierarchy. The Satnami community he founded in Chhattisgarh continues to this day.

Official status: State holiday in Chhattisgarh. Banks and government offices in Chhattisgarh close on 18 December 2026.

How it's observed in Chhattisgarh:

• State-wide cultural programs and processions honouring his life and philosophy
• Community gatherings at Jaitkhams (the Satnami community's sacred symbol — a tall pillar)
• Speeches, bhajans, and public recitations of Guru Ghasidas's teachings
• Government commemorations across Raipur, Bilaspur, and Girodpuri

Long weekend it creates:

Friday 18 December (Guru Ghasidas Jayanti) → Saturday 19 → Sunday 20

A clean 3-day break for Chhattisgarh — and a pre-Christmas weekend for the rest of India.

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Goa Liberation Day — Saturday, 19 December 2026

What it is: Goa Liberation Day marks 19 December 1961 — the day Indian armed forces completed Operation Vijay, ending 451 years of Portuguese colonial rule over Goa, Daman, and Diu, and integrating these territories into the Indian Republic. The operation took less than 36 hours. Not a single Indian soldier was lost in the main assault.

Goa was the last European colonial holding on Indian soil. Its liberation completed the territorial integration of India that had begun with independence in 1947.

Official status: State holiday in Goa, Daman & Diu. Banks and government offices in Goa close.

How it's observed in Goa:

• Flag hoisting ceremonies at Azad Maidan, Panaji, attended by the Governor and Chief Minister
• Parades featuring NCC, police, and school contingents
• Cultural programs celebrating Goa's unique heritage
• Tributes at war memorials honouring the soldiers of Operation Vijay

Falls on Saturday in 2026 — no additional weekday impact. But for those in Goa, the Liberation Day atmosphere and the proximity to Christmas make this weekend one of the most festive of the year.

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Losoong / Namsoong (Sikkimese New Year) — Sunday, 20 December 2026

What it is: Losoong (in Sikkimese Bhutia tradition) and Namsoong (in the Lepcha tradition) mark the Sikkimese New Year — celebrated after the harvest season with prayers, masked dances (Chaam), archery competitions, and community feasts. It is one of the most colourful festivals of the Eastern Himalayas.

Official status: State holiday in Sikkim. Banks in Gangtok close on this day.

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National Mathematics Day — Tuesday, 22 December 2026

What it is: National Mathematics Day is observed every year on 22 December — the birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan (1887–1920), the self-taught mathematical genius from Erode, Tamil Nadu, who made extraordinary contributions to mathematical analysis, number theory, infinite series, and continued fractions — many of which were only fully understood decades after his death.

Ramanujan is one of the most remarkable figures in the history of mathematics — a man with no formal university training who, through sheer intuition and obsessive dedication, produced results that have influenced mathematics and theoretical physics across the 20th and 21st centuries.

How it's observed:

• Schools and colleges organise mathematics competitions, puzzles, and seminars
• Government programs promoting mathematical literacy and science education
• Tributes at institutions named after Ramanujan, particularly in Chennai and Kumbakonam

Not a public holiday — offices and schools remain open.

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Hazrat Ali Birthday — Wednesday, 23 December 2026

What it is: Hazrat Ali's Birthday commemorates the birth of Ali ibn Abi Talib — the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the fourth Caliph of Islam, and the first Imam in Shia tradition. His birthday falls on the 13th of Rajab in the Islamic lunar calendar — in 2026, this is approximately Wednesday, 23 December (subject to moon sighting).

Official status: Restricted holiday in select states. Banks in some regions may close — verify with your specific branch.

How it's observed:

• Special prayers and recitations at mosques and imambaras
• Community gatherings and religious discourses
• Charitable acts and feeding of the poor — central to the spirit of the occasion

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Christmas Eve — Thursday, 24 December 2026

What it is: The evening before Christmas — when the Christmas story is told, carols are sung, churches hold midnight mass, and families gather for the last time before the gifts are opened on Christmas morning.

Official status: Restricted holiday in Mizoram, Nagaland, and Meghalaya — states with large Christian populations where Christmas Eve is observed as a full holiday. In urban centres across India — Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Goa — Christmas Eve is the social event of the year, even for non-Christian communities.

In Delhi NCR: Christmas Eve in Delhi is genuinely festive. The colonial-era churches of New Delhi — Sacred Heart Cathedral in Connaught Place, the Cathedral Church of the Redemption near North Avenue, St. James's Church in Kashmere Gate — hold midnight masses that are open to all. Connaught Place, Khan Market, and Hauz Khas Village are decorated and packed with people.

The strategic leave angle: Thursday 24 December is the single best day to take earned leave in all of December. One day of leave creates a 4-day Christmas weekend (Thu 24 → Fri 25 → Sat 26 → Sun 27). If you have pending leave balance to exhaust before year-end, this is the day.

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Christmas Day — Friday, 25 December 2026

What it is: Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ — the central figure of Christianity, born in Bethlehem. Observed globally on 25 December, it is one of the most widely celebrated occasions in the world — and in India, it transcends religious boundaries to become a cultural celebration that every city participates in.

Official status: Gazetted Public Holiday across India. Banks, central government offices, schools, and most businesses close nationwide. It is one of the few holidays observed universally across all states without exception.

Christmas in India — a celebration that belongs to everyone:

India's Christmas is distinct. In a country where Christians are a minority (roughly 2.3% of the population), the scale and enthusiasm of Christmas celebrations in cities across India consistently surprises first-time visitors. This is because in India, Christmas has become genuinely cross-cultural — the lights, the markets, the carols, the cakes, and the sense of collective warmth are things that Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata embrace with full commitment.

• Goa: The most Catholic state in India — Christmas in Goa is a month-long buildup. Churches decorated since late November. Midnight mass draws thousands. The beaches are crowded with Indian and international tourists. Old Goa's Basilica of Bom Jesus and Se Cathedral are magnificent at Christmas.
• Kerala: Christmas is observed with deep religious solemnity — Kerala's Syrian Christian community (one of the oldest Christian communities in the world) celebrates with traditional church services, family gatherings, and the distinctive Kerala Christmas cake.
• North-East India: In Mizoram, Nagaland, and Meghalaya — states with majority Christian populations — Christmas is the defining festival of the year. Entire cities transform. Carol competitions, nativity plays, and community feasts run for weeks.
• Delhi NCR: Christmas in Delhi has grown significantly. The Connaught Place Christmas tree, church services across the city, Christmas markets at embassies and premium malls, and the hotel brunches and dinners that sell out weeks in advance.
• Mumbai and Bengaluru: Bandra (Mumbai) and Bengaluru's St. Mark's Cathedral area are spectacular at Christmas — lights, markets, and a genuine festive atmosphere.

The Christmas long weekend 2026:

Friday 25 December (Christmas — Gazetted) → Saturday 26 (4th Saturday — banks closed) → Sunday 27 December

A natural 3-day break. Take Thursday 24 as leave for 4 days. This is Christmas 2026 — the best setup in recent years.

Born To Banger's Christmas services in Delhi NCR:

Christmas is our most creatively expansive month for events. Whether it's a school Christmas program, a corporate year-end party, or a home Christmas celebration — the festive brief unlocks the best of what we do:

• 🎄 Christmas-themed home decoration setups — wreaths, fairy lights, tree decoration, and table settings that transform your home for Christmas Eve dinner
• 🎨 Live caricature artist sessions — personalised Christmas portraits of the whole family or the entire office team. The Christmas gift everyone keeps.
• 🎭 School Christmas Annual Day programs — from stage setups and themed décor to activity stations, carol competitions, and Santa appearances
• 🏢 Corporate Christmas and year-end parties — festive team events with games, photo booths, caricature artists, and Christmas-themed setups that make your year-end party the one people actually look forward to
• 🎮 Interactive Christmas games and activity stations — for school events and corporate celebrations alike
• 📸 Festive photo booth setups — Christmas backdrops, props, and lighting that make every photo worth keeping
• 🎪 Kids' Christmas activity corners — craft stations, face painting with Christmas themes, and supervised play areas

Book Your December 2026 Christmas Event →

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New Year's Eve — Thursday, 31 December 2026

What it is: The final day of the year — and in India's metro cities, one of the biggest social occasions on the entire calendar. New Year's Eve 2026 falls on a Thursday, which means the celebrations run late into the night as New Year's Day (Friday, 1 January 2027) is a national holiday — giving everyone a guaranteed morning to recover.

Official status: State holiday in Manipur and Mizoram. Not a declared public holiday in most other states. But functionally, corporate India treats the week between Christmas and New Year as a winding-down period — attendance is low, decisions are deferred, and the year-end mood prevails.

New Year's Eve in Delhi NCR:

• Five-star hotel countdown events — Taj, Oberoi, Leela, Hyatt — sell out by October
• Farmhouse parties in Chattarpur, Ghitorni, and Dera Mandi — Delhi's most popular New Year format
• Rooftop events across Gurgaon, particularly in Cyber Hub, Golf Course Road, and DLF Cyber City
• Private home parties and housing society events for families who prefer a more controlled celebration

The year-end leave strategy: New Year's Day (1 January 2027) is a national holiday. With Christmas on Friday 25 December and NYE on Thursday 31 December — taking 5 days of leave (Mon 28 → Fri 31) gives you a 9-day year-end break from Christmas Eve (Thu 24) through New Year's Day (Fri 1 Jan). For anyone with leave balance to exhaust before the financial year resets: this is the window.

Born To Banger note: New Year's Eve parties — home, farmhouse, and housing society — are among our most-booked December events. If you're hosting a gathering to close out 2026, talk to our team about setups, entertainment, and coordination →

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Bank Holidays in December 2026 — Complete Schedule

Total December 2026 bank holidays: approximately 14–17 days including Sundays, 2nd and 4th Saturdays, Christmas (nationwide), and state-specific holidays. Christmas on Friday 25 + 4th Saturday 26 + Sunday 27 creates 3 consecutive bank-closed days nationwide. Always confirm with your specific bank branch before visiting.

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The Year-End Event Planning Reality for Delhi NCR

December operates differently from every other month. Here is what actually happens:

Corporate year-end parties hit their peak demand in November. Every company that wants a December party — and most do — books their event team in October or November. By the time December starts, the best teams in Delhi NCR are fully committed. Late-bookers in December get whoever is left.

School Annual Days and Christmas programs are the single highest-volume school event of the year. Every school across Delhi, Gurgaon, and Noida runs a Christmas program or Annual Day in December. The schools that book professional activity providers in September get caricature artists, face painters, and structured activity stations. Schools that try to book in late November get improvised solutions.

The Christmas week is Delhi NCR's most social week of the year. More dinner parties, home gatherings, and family celebrations happen in the 7 days from Christmas Eve to New Year's Day than in any comparable week outside the Diwali cluster. The weather is perfect. People have leave. The city is in a good mood.

Pending leave creates a captive celebration audience. Most corporate professionals in India have leave balances that must be exhausted before the financial year ends. December sees the highest leave utilisation of the year — which means more people are available, more families are together, and more celebrations need proper organisation.

Events Born To Banger handles through December:

• 🎄 Christmas home decoration setups and themed celebrations
• 🏫 School Annual Days and Christmas programs — our biggest December category
• 🏢 Corporate year-end and Christmas parties — festive team events with entertainment and activities
• 🎂 December birthday parties — Christmas-adjacent birthdays deserve Christmas-level magic
• 🎉 New Year's Eve home and venue setups — decoration, photo booths, and activity coordination
• 🎨 Live caricature artist sessions — the year-end gift that personalises any gathering
• 🏠 Housing society Christmas and year-end events — community celebrations done right

Book Your December 2026 Event →

Book now. Corporate Christmas calendars fill in October. School Annual Day slots go in September. Don't be the person calling in mid-December asking if anything is available.

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Frequently Asked Questions — December 2026 Holidays in India

When is Christmas in 2026?

Christmas Day falls on Friday, 25 December 2026. It is a Gazetted Public Holiday across India — banks, central government offices, schools, and most businesses close nationwide.

Is there a long weekend for Christmas in 2026?

Yes — a very good one. Christmas on Friday 25 December is followed by Saturday 26 December (4th Saturday — banks closed) and Sunday 27 December. That is a natural 3-day Christmas break. Take Thursday 24 December as one day of earned leave and you get 4 consecutive days from Christmas Eve to Sunday evening.

How many bank holidays are there in December 2026?

Approximately 14–17 bank holidays in December 2026, including Sundays, 2nd and 4th Saturdays, Christmas Day (gazetted — nationwide), and state-specific holidays in Goa, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, and North-East states. The exact count varies by state.

Is Goa Liberation Day a national holiday?

No. Goa Liberation Day (19 December) is a state holiday specific to Goa, Daman & Diu. Banks and government offices in Goa close on this day. It is not observed as a holiday in other states.

What is Vijay Diwas and is it a holiday?

Vijay Diwas (16 December) commemorates India's military victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war and the creation of Bangladesh. It is a day of national remembrance — not a declared public holiday. Offices and schools remain open. It is observed with tributes at war memorials and armed forces events.

Is New Year's Eve a holiday in India?

New Year's Eve (31 December 2026) is a state holiday in Manipur and Mizoram. It is not a gazetted public holiday in most other states. However, New Year's Day (1 January 2027) is a national holiday — giving everyone a guaranteed holiday on Friday 1 January.

What is Guru Ghasidas Jayanti?

Guru Ghasidas Jayanti (18 December) marks the birth anniversary of Guru Ghasidas — the founder of the Satnami movement in Chhattisgarh, born in 1756. It is a state holiday in Chhattisgarh — banks and government offices in Raipur, Bilaspur, and other Chhattisgarh cities close on this day.

What is the best way to use leave in December 2026 for a long year-end break?

The optimal strategy: take 5 days of earned leave from Monday 28 to Friday 31 December (combining with the Christmas weekend). Result: a 9-day year-end break from Thursday 24 December (Christmas Eve) through Friday 1 January 2027 (New Year's Day holiday). This is the single best leave-utilisation window of the entire year for those with pending balance.

Is Christmas Eve a public holiday in India?

Christmas Eve (24 December) is a restricted holiday in Mizoram, Nagaland, and Meghalaya. It is not a gazetted public holiday in most other states. Banks and central government offices remain open on 24 December 2026.

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Close the Year the Way It Deserves — Born To Banger, Delhi NCR

December is the month that decides how you remember the year. A Christmas celebration that the whole family looks forward to. A year-end party that your office team actually enjoys. A school Annual Day that students talk about for years. A New Year's Eve gathering that closes 2026 with the energy it deserves.

None of that happens by accident. It happens because someone decided, early enough, to make it happen properly.

Born To Banger is Delhi NCR's premium event experiences company. We plan and execute celebrations that people actually remember — from the Christmas décor that transforms your home to the caricature portrait that captures the moment. Professional artists, interactive activities, festive setups, and complete event coordination for schools, corporates, and families across the NCR.

Serving: Delhi · Gurgaon · Noida · Faridabad · Ghaziabad · and across NCR

Book Your December 2026 Event →

Explore Our Services →

See What We've Created →

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Last updated: June 2026. Hazrat Ali Birthday follows the Islamic lunar calendar and may shift by one day based on moon sighting. Christmas Day (25 December) is a fixed Gazetted Holiday. Always verify bank holiday schedules with your bank and state government notifications before planning financial transactions or office arrangements.

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• Corporate Year-End Party Ideas That Actually Work in Delhi NCR