Holidays in October 2026 India – Complete List + Festive Season Guide for Delhi NCR

October 2026 is India's biggest month on the calendar. Not one of the biggest — the biggest.

A national holiday to open it. A 9-night festival immediately after. The most cinematic public celebration in the Hindu calendar — Dussehra — right in the middle. A Monday holiday that creates a 3-day North India weekend. Karwa Chauth three days before the month ends. And the entire country in a state of heightened energy that doesn't fully exhale until Diwali in November.

If you've been delaying a birthday celebration, a family gathering, a corporate event, or any occasion that deserves real effort — October 2026 has more natural triggers than any other month of the year. The question isn't whether to celebrate. The question is which window you're using.

This is your complete guide to every holiday in October 2026 in India — every confirmed date, every meaning, every long weekend, every bank holiday, and every reason to make this your most memorable festive season yet.

If you're in Delhi NCR and you want events that people actually talk about afterwards — Born To Banger creates premium celebration experiences across birthdays, corporate events, school programs, Navratri gatherings, and family parties.

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October 2026 Holidays: Full List at a Glance

Note: Gandhi Jayanti (2 October) is one of India's three National Holidays — observed universally, no exceptions. Dussehra (20 October) is a Gazetted Central Government Holiday. Navratri is a religious observance and not a declared public holiday, but schools and many offices in North India operate with reduced attendance during this period. Durga Puja holidays are state-specific. Always verify with your state government's official notification and RBI circulars.

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Long Weekends in October 2026 — Every Window, Mapped

October 2026 doesn't give you one long weekend. It gives you four. Back to back. Across a month when the weather in North and Central India becomes genuinely beautiful.

Long Weekend 1 — Gandhi Jayanti (2–4 October)

Friday 2 October (Gandhi Jayanti) → Saturday 3 → Sunday 4

India's only National Holiday that falls on a Friday in 2026. No leave required. A clean 3-day break that the entire country gets simultaneously — central government, state offices, banks, schools, all closed on Friday. The weather in North India in early October is transitional — the last traces of monsoon humidity are clearing, and evenings are starting to feel like the season everyone's been waiting for.

Long Weekend 2 — Navratri + Durga Puja Cluster (10–13 October)

Saturday 10 October (2nd Saturday — banks closed) → Sunday 11 October (Navratri begins) → Monday 12 → Tuesday 13

For those in West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, and Tripura: a 4-day Durga Puja extended weekend — the biggest cultural celebration in Eastern India begins. For Delhi NCR, UP, Rajasthan, and Gujarat: Navratri has started, garba nights are running, and the festive energy is completely alive.

Long Weekend 3 — Dussehra (17–20 October) ⭐ The Big One

Saturday 17 → Sunday 18 → Monday 19 October (Maha Navami — state holiday in WB, Assam, Odisha, Bihar) → Tuesday 20 October (Dussehra — Gazetted Holiday)

This is October's headline long weekend. For anyone in a state that observes Maha Navami (Monday 19) as a state holiday — that is a 4-day festive weekend. Even without the Monday holiday, Dussehra on Tuesday creates a natural bridge: take Monday as casual leave and you get 5 consecutive days. In Delhi NCR specifically, Dussehra is celebrated with the famous Ramlila performances — the largest are held at Ramlila Maidan, Red Fort Grounds, and across every neighbourhood. The effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran, and Meghnad burn at dusk on the evening of 20 October in a spectacle that draws millions.

Long Weekend 4 — Valmiki Jayanti (24–26 October)

Saturday 24 → Sunday 25 → Monday 26 October (Valmiki Jayanti — state holiday in Delhi, UP, Haryana, Punjab)

A 3-day break for North India. Karwa Chauth is three days away on Thursday 29 October. Smart families use this cluster to get their pre-Diwali preparations running without the chaos of the final week.

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

Gandhi Jayanti — Friday, 2 October 2026

What it is: Gandhi Jayanti marks the 157th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi — Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, born on 2 October 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat. It is one of India's three National Holidays (alongside Republic Day and Independence Day) — the only category of holiday that cannot be substituted or moved. Every central government office, bank, school, and institution in the country closes.

The United Nations also designated 2 October as the International Day of Non-Violence in 2007, in recognition of Gandhi's philosophy of ahimsa as a universal framework for conflict resolution.

How it's observed in India:

• Prayer meetings and tributes at Raj Ghat, attended by the President, Prime Minister, and Cabinet
• School programs, essay competitions, and painting contests themed around Gandhi's principles
• Community swachhata (cleanliness) drives in the spirit of Gandhi's emphasis on sanitation
• Khadi and village industries programs promoted by government bodies

For Delhi NCR families: Raj Ghat on Gandhi Jayanti is genuinely worth visiting — the early morning prayer ceremony is quiet, dignified, and attended by the country's leadership. Take children once. It's the kind of memory that sticks.

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Sharad Navratri — 11 to 19 October 2026

What it is: Navratri — meaning "nine nights" — is the most widely celebrated Hindu festival in terms of geographic spread. Sharad Navratri runs for nine nights in the Hindu month of Ashwin, dedicated to the nine forms of Goddess Durga. In 2026, it begins on Sunday, 11 October (Ghatasthapana) and runs through Monday, 19 October (Maha Navami), culminating in Dussehra on Tuesday, 20 October.

It's celebrated completely differently across India:

• Gujarat: Garba — nine nights of circular dance in elaborate traditional dress, with live music that runs deep past midnight. Ahmedabad, Surat, and Vadodara host some of the world's largest Navratri events.
• West Bengal and Eastern India: Durga Puja — the most lavishly produced public art festival in India, with themed pandals housing Durga idols created by some of the country's finest artisans.
• Delhi NCR: Ramlila performances running nightly across the city. Garba events at community clubs, farmhouses, and cultural venues. Housing society dandiya nights.
• Mysore (Karnataka): The Mysore Dasara — one of India's most spectacular royal traditions, with the lit-up Mysore Palace as backdrop.

Official status: Navratri is not a gazetted public holiday at the central government level. However, in several states, specific days — particularly Maha Navami (19 Oct) — are declared state holidays. Schools across North India often run at partial capacity during this period.

Born To Banger can help: If your housing society, school, or corporate office is planning a Navratri garba or dandiya night in Delhi NCR, we handle setups, activity stations, live entertainment coordination, and the décor that makes the space feel right. Talk to our team →

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Durga Puja — 16 to 20 October 2026

What it is: Durga Puja is the annual celebration of Goddess Durga's victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura — and in West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, and Tripura, it is not just a festival. It is the defining cultural event of the year. Entire cities transform. Artists spend months building themed pandals. Families plan reunions around it.

Key dates in 2026:

• 16 October (Friday): Kalparambha — formal beginning of Durga Puja rituals
• 17 October (Saturday): Mahasaptami — Navpatrika Puja
• 18 October (Sunday): Maha Ashtami
• 19 October (Monday): Maha Navami — state holiday in West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Bihar, Tripura
• 20 October (Tuesday): Vijayadashami / Dussehra — Gazetted holiday pan-India; Sindoor Khela and idol immersion in West Bengal

For Delhi NCR: The Bengali community in CR Park (South Delhi) hosts one of the most celebrated Durga Puja celebrations outside West Bengal — drawing crowds from across the city for the pandals, food, and cultural programs. CR Park Durga Puja during this window is genuinely worth visiting.

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Dussehra / Vijayadashami — Tuesday, 20 October 2026

What it is: Dussehra (also Vijayadashami) is the 10th and final day of Navratri — the day Lord Rama defeated Ravana, and the day Goddess Durga slew Mahishasura. In every reading, it is the festival of the triumph of good over evil, dharma over adharma, light over darkness. It arrives on the Dashami of the Shukla Paksha of Ashwin — Tuesday, 20 October 2026.

Official status: Gazetted Public Holiday across India. Banks, central offices, most state offices, and most schools close on this day.

How India celebrates — and why Delhi's is one of the country's best:

• Ramlila and Ravana Dahan: Delhi hosts some of the country's most spectacular Dussehra celebrations. The Ramlila Maidan Dussehra draws enormous crowds to watch the burning of towering effigies — sometimes 70–100 feet tall — of Ravana, Kumbhkaran, and Meghnad at the stroke of dusk. Similar events happen at Dwarka, Pitampura, Laxmi Nagar, and dozens of neighbourhoods.
• Mysore: The royal Mysore Dasara procession — with caparisoned elephants, the lit Mysore Palace, and cultural performances — is one of India's most photographed annual events.
• Kullu Dussehra (Himachal Pradesh): A week-long fair that draws deities from surrounding villages in palanquins. Unlike most of India, Kullu celebrates for seven days starting on Vijayadashami.
• Bastar Dussehra (Chhattisgarh): The longest Dussehra celebration in India — 75 days — rooted in tribal traditions.

For families in Delhi NCR: Make the evening of 20 October non-negotiable. Arrive early at your nearest Ramlila ground. The effigies burn at dusk. Children who see it once remember it for years.

Born To Banger note: Post-Dussehra parties and pre-Diwali celebrations are some of our highest-demand bookings in October. If you're planning a family gathering or birthday party in the Dussehra long weekend, book early → — October fills fast.

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Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti — Monday, 26 October 2026

What it is: Valmiki Jayanti — also called Prakat Diwas — marks the birth anniversary of Maharishi Valmiki, the Sanskrit poet and author of the Valmiki Ramayana. Valmiki is revered as the Adi Kavi (first poet) of Sanskrit literature — his Ramayana is one of the foundational texts of Indian civilisation.

Official holiday status: Public holiday in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Karnataka, among other states.

How it's observed:

• Processions and shobha yatras organised by Valmiki community organisations across North India
• Prayers and bhajans at Valmiki temples
• Public programs reciting verses from the Ramayana
• Community feasts and cultural events, particularly in Delhi, Punjab, and UP

Long weekend it creates:

Saturday 24 → Sunday 25 → Monday 26 October (Valmiki Jayanti)

A clean 3-day weekend for Delhi and North India — right between Dussehra and Karwa Chauth. The ideal window for pre-festive gatherings and family celebrations before November's chaos.

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Karwa Chauth (Karaka Chaturthi) — Thursday, 29 October 2026

What it is: Karwa Chauth is one of the most emotionally significant fasts in the Hindu tradition — observed by married women in North and North-Western India, who fast from sunrise to moonrise, breaking the fast only after sighting the moon and offering prayers for the long life of their husbands. The name comes from karwa (an earthen pot used in rituals) and chauth (fourth — the fourth day after the full moon of Kartika). In 2026 it falls on Thursday, 29 October.

Official status: Restricted holiday in several North India states including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab. Not a gazetted national holiday.

How it's celebrated:

• Pre-dawn meal (sargi) prepared by the mother-in-law before sunrise
• Day-long fast — no food or water until moonrise
• Evening gathering of women in traditional dress for the communal puja — passing the thali, viewing the moon through a sieve, then through the sieve at their husband's face
• The husband gives water as the first drink to break the fast after moonrise

Born To Banger note: We create beautiful Karwa Chauth setup experiences for home celebrations — decorated puja spaces, themed photo corners, and curated activity ideas for families celebrating together. Enquire about our setup services →

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National Unity Day — Saturday, 31 October 2026

What it is: National Unity Day (Rashtriya Ekta Diwas) is observed on 31 October every year — the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, the Iron Man of India. Patel was the architect of Indian unification, responsible for integrating 562 princely states into the newly independent Republic.

How it's observed:

• Run for Unity events across government offices, schools, and public institutions
• Pledges of national unity taken in schools and colleges
• Cultural programs highlighting Patel's contribution to Indian integration
• Government functions at the Statue of Unity (Kevadia, Gujarat)

Falls on a Saturday in 2026 — no additional weekday impact.

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Bank Holidays in October 2026 — Complete State-Wise Guide

Total October 2026 bank holidays: approximately 18–22 days including Sundays, 2nd and 4th Saturdays, and festival closures — varying significantly by state. West Bengal and Assam will see the most closures due to the Durga Puja cluster. Always confirm with your specific bank branch before visiting.

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The October Event Planning Truth Nobody Tells You

Everyone celebrates in October. Which sounds like a reason to join — but it's actually a trap if you plan late.

Here is what happens every year without exception:

By mid-September, every good caricature artist, decorator, and event team in Delhi NCR is booked for the Navratri–Dussehra–Diwali window. By the time most people start thinking about their October birthday party or corporate event in late September, the best options are already gone.

The families and companies that get remarkable October events — the ones people actually talk about — booked in July or August. Not because they're obsessive planners. Because they understood simple supply and demand in a month where everyone wants the same thing at the same time.

October is also the month where the event experience gap is widest. The difference between a memorable celebration and a forgettable one isn't effort — it's the right team. Because October has so many natural emotional hooks (Navratri energy, Dussehra drama, pre-Diwali warmth), a well-executed event in this month lands harder than the same event in any other month of the year.

Events Born To Banger handles through October:

• 🎂 Birthday parties — kids and adults, with October being peak demand for milestone birthdays
• 🪔 Navratri and Dussehra celebration setups — housing society events, dandiya nights, themed décor
• 🏢 Corporate festive events — Q3 close parties, team Diwali celebrations planned early
• 🏫 School Navratri and Dussehra programs — cultural performances, themed activity stations
• 🏠 Family Karwa Chauth setups — puja décor, photo corners, personalised experiences
• 🎨 Live caricature sessions — our most requested activity for October gatherings of any kind
• 🎭 Pre-Diwali home and venue décor setups — creating the festive atmosphere before the big week

Book Your October 2026 Event Now →

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Frequently Asked Questions — October 2026 Holidays in India

Is Gandhi Jayanti a national holiday in 2026?

Yes. Gandhi Jayanti on 2 October 2026 is one of India's three National Holidays. It is a mandatory public holiday — all central government offices, banks, schools, and most institutions across India close. It falls on a Friday in 2026, creating a natural 3-day long weekend (2–4 October).

When is Navratri in October 2026?

Sharad Navratri 2026 begins on Sunday, 11 October (Ghatasthapana / Pratipada) and ends on Monday, 19 October (Maha Navami), with Dussehra on Tuesday, 20 October. The 9-night festival runs from 11–19 October 2026.

When is Dussehra in 2026?

Dussehra (Vijayadashami) falls on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. It is a Gazetted Public Holiday across India — central government offices, banks, and most state offices close on this day.

Is there a long weekend for Dussehra in 2026?

Yes — a significant one. With Dussehra on Tuesday 20 October, and Maha Navami on Monday 19 October (state holiday in West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Bihar), those states get a 4-day break from Saturday 17 to Tuesday 20 October. In other states, taking one day of casual leave on Monday 19 creates a 4-day break.

When is Valmiki Jayanti in 2026?

Valmiki Jayanti falls on Monday, 26 October 2026. It is a public holiday in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and several other states — creating a 3-day long weekend (Saturday 24 → Sunday 25 → Monday 26 October).

When is Karwa Chauth in 2026?

Karwa Chauth falls on Thursday, 29 October 2026. It is observed as a restricted/optional holiday in North India states including UP, Haryana, and Punjab. It is not a gazetted national holiday.

How many long weekends are there in October 2026?

October 2026 has four long weekends:

• 2–4 October (Gandhi Jayanti — Friday, natural 3-day break)
• 10–13 October (2nd Saturday + Navratri / Durga Puja state holiday cluster)
• 17–20 October (Dussehra — Tuesday; 4-day break with state holiday Mon 19 or one day leave)
• 24–26 October (Valmiki Jayanti — Monday, in applicable North India states)

How many bank holidays are there in October 2026?

Approximately 18–22 bank holidays in October 2026, including Sundays, 2nd and 4th Saturdays, Gandhi Jayanti, Dussehra, Durga Puja (state-specific), and Valmiki Jayanti (state-specific). October is typically one of the highest bank holiday months of the year due to the festive cluster.

Is Navratri a public holiday in India?

Navratri itself (11–19 October 2026) is not a gazetted public holiday. However, specific days within Navratri — particularly Maha Navami (19 Oct) — are declared state holidays in West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Bihar, and other eastern states. Dussehra on the 10th day (20 Oct) is a Gazetted holiday across India.

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Make October 2026 Unforgettable — Before November Gets All the Credit

Diwali gets the headlines every year. But ask anyone who's had a birthday in October, or hosted a Navratri event that genuinely came together, or planned a Dussehra evening that everyone stayed for — October is the month where celebrations land the hardest.

The weather is finally perfect. The energy in every city is at its annual peak. People are in the mood to be together. The festive season hasn't peaked yet — which means your event benefits from the buildup, not the exhaustion that comes after Diwali.

Born To Banger is Delhi NCR's premium event experiences company. We plan and execute celebrations that people actually remember — from the décor they walk into to the caricature portrait they take home. Professional artists, interactive activities, themed setups, and complete event coordination. You host. We handle the rest.

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

Book Your October 2026 Event →

Explore Our Services →

See What We've Created →

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Last updated: June 2026. Navratri, Dussehra, Valmiki Jayanti, and Karwa Chauth dates follow the Hindu lunar calendar and may vary by one day based on the panchang followed regionally. Gandhi Jayanti (2 October) is a fixed national holiday. Always verify bank holiday schedules with your bank and state government notifications before planning financial transactions or office arrangements.

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