Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu has more than one culture and working schedule. The Union Territory comprises areas that are distinct in their history, labor force, and religious compositions. Not so long ago, they were two distinct Union Territories themselves. The diversity here does not result in a long festive schedule. The list remains short and utility-oriented.
Most of the public holidays in this country are intended to produce administrative certainty. This is because the administration, courts, as well as other services, have a simpler set of specific dates as opposed to a long list of festivals. National holidays provide a foundation for the year. Religious holidays are included in relation to their importance in the communities.
What this means is that many of the festivals are still practiced even if they are no longer part of the formal holiday list. The holiday list is not a cultural inventory but a working document that indicates when offices are closed as a whole in the Union Territory for those specific reasons.
The following table includes the commonly notified and institutionally observed holidays for the UTs of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, as per the same principle of inclusion throughout the other state lists.
List of National, Public, and Religious Holidays in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu for 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 |
How Holidays Function in the Union Territory
This list is stringently followed by government offices and other institutions with very few deviations. This being a Union Territory, administrative consistency takes precedence over local traditions. The courts, municipalities, and Union Territory Administration function around the scheduled dates.
Private companies, particularly the industry sectors, normally recognize national holidays and some major religious festivals. Others are normally addressed by the vacation program rather than shutdowns. Banks recognize RBI notifications that are largely the same as the preceding list.
Also Read: Holiday List in Andaman and Nicobar Islands 2026
FAQs
1. Why does the Union Territory have fewer holidays than many states?
Union Territories prioritise administrative clarity over regional or cultural breadth.
2. Are Hindu festivals officially recognised here?
Yes. Large Hindu festivals that have a wide reach, like Holi, Dussehra, and Diwali, are included.
3. Do private companies have to follow this list?
No. Private employers set their own holiday policies.
4. Are public holidays the same throughout Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman, and Diu?
Administratively, yes. By way of social observation, it is variable.
5. Are banks closed on all these days?
Banks follow RBI-designated holidays, which may not fully match the Union Territory list every year.