Kerala celebrates its festivals with enthusiasm and grandeur. They do more than fill the calendar; they set the rhythm of life in the state. From the ten days of feasting and community spirit during Onam to the quiet reflection of Vishu, the holiday list blends cultural events, religious occasions, and the national holidays we all know. Each year, the state government announces an official list of holidays, and 2027 is no exception.
Rather than just listing dates, this guide looks at how people in Kerala actually observe these holidays. Some are major statewide celebrations, while others are part of local tradition or the Malayalam calendar.
List of National, Public and Regional Holidays in Kerala for 2027
| S.No. | Date | Day | Holiday | Holiday Type |
|---|
| 1 | Jan 02 | Saturday | Mannam Jayanthi | State/Regional |
| 2 | Jan 26 | Tuesday | Republic Day | National |
| 3 | Mar 06 | Saturday | Maha Shivaratri | Religious |
| 4 | Mar 10 | Wednesday | Eid-ul-Fitr (Ramzan)* | Religious |
| 5 | Mar 25 | Thursday | Maundy Thursday (Pesaha Vyazham) | Religious (Bank not on Holiday) |
| 6 | Mar 26 | Friday | Good Friday | Religious |
| 7 | Apr 01 | Thursday | Annual Closing of Accounts | Public/Bank |
| 8 | Apr 14 | Wednesday | Dr B.R. Ambedkar Jayanthi | Public |
| 9 | Apr 15 | Thursday | Vishu | Regional/Religious |
| 10 | May 01 | Saturday | May Day | Public |
| 11 | May 17 | Monday | Eid-ul-Adha (Bakrid)* | Religious |
| 12 | Jun 16 | Wednesday | Muharram* | Religious |
| 13 | Aug 02 | Monday | Karkidaka Vavu | Regional/Religious |
| 14 | Aug 15 | Sunday | Independence Day | National |
| 15 | Aug 25 | Wednesday | Sreekrishna Jayanthi | Regional |
| 16 | Sep 11 | Saturday | First Onam | Regional |
| 17 | Sep 12 | Sunday | Thiruvonam | Regional |
| 18 | Sep 13 | Monday | Third Onam | Regional |
| 19 | Sep 14 | Tuesday | Fourth Onam | Regional |
| 20 | Sep 21 | Tuesday | Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi | Regional |
| 21 | Oct 02 | Saturday | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti | National |
| 22 | Oct 08 | Friday | Mahanavami | Regional |
| 23 | Oct 09 | Saturday | Vijayadasami | Regional |
| 24 | Oct 29 | Friday | Deepavali (Diwali) | Religious |
| 25 | Dec 25 | Saturday | Christmas | Religious |
*Dates for Islamic festivals depend on moon sighting and may shift slightly.
Major Religious Holidays 2026
| S.No. | Date | Day | Holiday | Holiday Type |
|---|
| 1 | Jan 02 | Friday | Mannam Jayanthi | State/Regional |
| 2 | Jan 26 | Monday | Republic Day | National |
| 3 | Feb 15 | Sunday | Maha Shivaratri | Religious |
| 4 | Mar 20 | Friday | Eid-ul-Fitr (Ramzan)* | Religious |
| 5 | Apr 01 | Wednesday | Annual Closing of Accounts | Public/Bank |
| 6 | Apr 02 | Thursday | Maundy Thursday (Pesaha Vyazham) | Religious (Bank not on Holiday) |
| 7 | Apr 03 | Friday | Good Friday | Religious |
| 8 | Apr 14 | Tuesday | Dr B.R. Ambedkar Jayanthi | Public |
| 9 | Apr 15 | Wednesday | Vishu | Regional/Religious |
| 10 | May 01 | Friday | May Day | Public |
| 11 | May 27 | Wednesday | Eid-ul-Adha (Bakrid)* | Religious |
| 12 | Jun 25 | Thursday | Muharram* | Religious |
| 13 | Aug 12 | Wednesday | Karkidaka Vavu | Regional/Religious |
| 14 | Aug 15 | Saturday | Independence Day | National |
| 15 | Aug 25 | Tuesday | First Onam | Regional |
| 16 | Aug 26 | Wednesday | Thiruvonam | Regional |
| 17 | Aug 27 | Thursday | Third Onam | Regional |
| 18 | Aug 28 | Friday | Fourth Onam | Regional |
| 19 | Sep 04 | Friday | Sreekrishna Jayanthi | Regional |
| 20 | Sep 21 | Monday | Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi | Regional |
| 21 | Oct 02 | Friday | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti | National |
| 22 | Oct 20 | Tuesday | Mahanavami | Regional |
| 23 | Oct 21 | Wednesday | Vijayadasami | Regional |
| 24 | Nov 08 | Sunday | Deepavali (Diwali) | Religious |
| 25 | Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas | Religious |
*Dates for Islamic festivals depend on moon sighting and may shift slightly.
What Makes Kerala’s Holidays Stand Out
- Lots of layers: Some holidays like Onam stretch over several days and have deep cultural roots beyond just a day off work.
- Religious diversity: Kerala’s calendar recognizes festivals from different faiths, reflected in both regional traditions and official listings.
- Official vs optional: The list above covers the main gazetted holidays for the year. There are also restricted or optional holidays not shown here (especially for banks and Central Government offices), and they vary by institution.
Also Read: Holiday List in Jammu and Kashmir 2027
FAQs
1. Are all these holidays observed everywhere in Kerala?
Most are statewide: government offices, banks, and many schools and colleges follow them. Some regional ones (like Onam’s detailed observances) might feel larger in specific districts but are recognized statewide.
2. Do banks follow the same list?
Yes, for the most part, especially the major public holidays. Banks also have additional bank-specific holidays like the Annual Closing of Accounts, and sometimes Saturdays/Sundays as per RBI rules.
3. Why are there several Onam holidays?
Onam isn’t just a single day in Kerala. The official list marks the key days (First Onam, Thiruvonam, Third Onam, and Fourth Onam), but the wider festival runs before and after these dates in many communities.
4. Why isn’t Easter on this list?
Easter always falls on a Sunday, which is already a non-working day, so it is not listed as a separate holiday here.
