Holidays in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands feel so different because here, distance is never an abstract thing. When offices shut, ships run less frequently, supply schedules thin out, and daily routines shrink. A holiday isn't just time off; it reshapes logistics. That reality keeps the official calendar practical rather than expansive.
The administration relies on a narrow set of clearly notified holidays. National observances anchor the entire year. A handful of religious festivals appear because they consistently affect public functioning across islands. What the calendar doesn't attempt is cultural completeness. Many communities observe festivals socially, even when the date does not come with an official closure.
Port Blair sets the administrative tone, while more remote islands often have a longer slowdown around the same holiday, not because of policy, but because movement becomes harder. The calendar signals when the system pauses. How long that pause lasts varies by geography.
The list below represents commonly notified and institutionally followed holidays in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
List of National, Public, and Religious Holidays in Andaman and Nicobar Islands for 2027
| Date | Day | Holiday | Holiday Type |
|---|
| Jan 01 | Friday | New Year's Day | Public |
| Jan 26 | Tuesday | Republic Day | National |
| Mar 10 | Wednesday | Id-ul-Fitr* | Religious |
| Mar 22 | Monday | Holi | Religious |
| Mar 26 | Friday | Good Friday | Religious |
| May 01 | Saturday | May Day | Public |
| Aug 15 | Sunday | Independence Day | National |
| Aug 25 | Wednesday | Janmashtami | Religious |
| Oct 02 | Saturday | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti | National |
| Oct 09 | Saturday | Vijayadashami (Dussehra) | Religious |
| Oct 29 | Friday | Diwali | Religious |
| Dec 25 | Saturday | Christmas Day | Religious |
*Dates for religious festivals follow lunar calendars and reflect commonly observed 2027 calculations. Islamic festival dates may shift by a day based on moon sighting.
Major Religious Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Holiday Type |
|---|
| Jan 01 | Thursday | New Year's Day | Public |
| Jan 26 | Monday | Republic Day | National |
| Mar 04 | Wednesday | Holi | Religious |
| Mar 21 | Saturday | Id-ul-Fitr* | Religious |
| Apr 03 | Friday | Good Friday | Religious |
| May 01 | Friday | May Day | Public |
| Aug 15 | Saturday | Independence Day | National |
| Sep 04 | Friday | Janmashtami | Religious |
| Oct 02 | Friday | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti | National |
| Oct 20 | Tuesday | Vijayadashami (Dussehra) | Religious |
| Nov 08 | Sunday | Diwali | Religious |
| Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | Religious |
*Islamic festival dates are tentative and may shift based on moon sighting.
How Holidays Function in the Islands
Government offices and public institutions follow this list closely. Closures are most widespread on national holidays. Around major religious festivals, logistics and transport can take a while to return to normal after the holiday.
Private employers usually observe national holidays and a limited number of religious festivals. Tourism-linked businesses often stay open, adjusting staffing rather than shutting completely, since tourism is a key industry for the Union Territory. Banks follow RBI notifications, which largely overlap with this list.
Also Read: Holiday List in Nagaland 2027
FAQs
1. Does the Union Territory observe fewer holidays than mainland states?
Yes. The official list prioritizes administrative reliability over festival volume.
2. Are religious festivals celebrated even if they are not holidays?
Often, yes. Social observance is broader than the official calendar.
3. Do all islands observe holidays the same way?
Administratively, yes. In practice, remoteness affects how quickly work resumes.
4. Are private companies required to follow this list?
No. Private employers set their own holiday policies.
5. Are banks closed on all these days?
Banks follow RBI-designated holidays, which may differ slightly year to year.
