The holiday calendar of Meghalaya tells a myriad of stories, apart from just reflecting holidays that the citizens of the state celebrate. In this northeastern Seven Sisters state, holidays aren't only about time off; they reflect the history of the hills, the blend of communities, and traditions that run deep in every village and town.
While some days are uniformly observed all across the state, others carry a special regional, cultural, or even historical flavor that is unique to the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo hills and the communities that live within them.
List of National, Public, and Regional Holidays in Meghalaya for 2027
| S.No. | Date | Day | Holiday | Holiday Type |
|---|
| 1 | Jan 01 | Friday | New Year's Day | Public |
| 2 | Jan 26 | Tuesday | Republic Day | National |
| 3 | Feb 11 | Thursday | Saraswati Puja | Religious |
| 4 | Mar 10 | Wednesday | Id-ul-Fitr | Public |
| 5 | Mar 22 | Monday | Holi | Public |
| 6 | Mar 26 | Friday | Good Friday | Public |
| 7 | May 17 | Monday | Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) | Public |
| 8 | Jul - | - | Behdeinkhlam Festival* | Regional |
| 9 | Jul 17 | Saturday | U Tirot Sing Day | Regional |
| 10 | Aug 15 | Sunday | Independence Day | National |
| 11 | Aug 17 | Tuesday | Raksha Bandhan | Restricted/Optional |
| 12 | Aug 25 | Wednesday | Janmashtami | Public |
| 13 | Oct 02 | Saturday | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti | National |
| 14 | Oct 08 | Friday | Maha Navami | Public |
| 15 | Oct 09 | Saturday | Dussehra (Vijayadashami) | Public |
| 16 | Oct 29 | Friday | Diwali | Public |
| 17 | Nov 02 | Tuesday | All Souls' Day | Public |
| 18 | Nov 12 | Friday | Wangala Festival | Public |
| 19 | Nov 14 | Sunday | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Restricted/Optional |
| 20 | Nov 23 | Tuesday | Seng Kut Snem | Public |
| 21 | Dec 12 | Sunday | Death Anniversary of Pa Togan Nengminja Sangma | Public |
| 22 | Dec 18 | Saturday | Death Anniversary of U SoSo Tham | Public |
| 23 | Dec 25 | Saturday | Christmas Day | Public |
| 24 | Dec 30 | Thursday | U Kiang Nangbah Day | Regional/Historical |
Note: Deputy commissioners can declare up to three additional local holidays in their districts for events like Shad Suk Mynsiem, Unitarian Anniversary Day, Garo Labour Corps Day, Shad Nongkrem, and other festivals of local significance. The Behdeinkhlam festival is celebrated in July but doesn't have a fixed date.
Major Religious Holidays 2026
| S.No. | Date | Day | Holiday | Holiday Type |
|---|
| 1 | Jan 01 | Thursday | New Year's Day | Public |
| 2 | Jan 23 | Friday | Saraswati Puja | Religious |
| 3 | Jan 26 | Monday | Republic Day | National |
| 4 | Mar 04 | Wednesday | Holi | Public |
| 5 | Mar 21 | Saturday | Id-ul-Fitr | Public |
| 6 | Apr 03 | Friday | Good Friday | Public |
| 7 | May 27 | Wednesday | Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) | Public |
| 8 | Jul 09 | Thursday | Behdeinkhlam Festival | Regional |
| 9 | Jul 17 | Friday | U Tirot Sing Day | Regional |
| 10 | Aug 15 | Saturday | Independence Day | National |
| 11 | Aug 28 | Friday | Raksha Bandhan | Restricted/Optional |
| 12 | Sep 04 | Friday | Janmashtami | Public |
| 13 | Oct 02 | Friday | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti | National |
| 14 | Oct 20 | Tuesday | Maha Navami | Public |
| 15 | Oct 21 | Wednesday | Dussehra (Vijayadashami) | Public |
| 16 | Nov 02 | Monday | All Souls' Day | Public |
| 17 | Nov 08 | Sunday | Diwali | Public |
| 18 | Nov 13 | Friday | Wangala Festival | Public |
| 19 | Nov 23 | Monday | Seng Kut Snem | Public |
| 20 | Nov 24 | Tuesday | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Restricted/Optional |
| 21 | Dec 12 | Saturday | Death Anniversary of Pa Togan Nengminja Sangma | Public |
| 22 | Dec 18 | Friday | Death Anniversary of U SoSo Tham | Public |
| 23 | Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | Public |
| 24 | Dec 30 | Wednesday | U Kiang Nangbah Day | Regional/Historical |
Why Meghalaya's Holiday Calendar Feels Different
- Multiple layers of culture: Along with national and religious dates, many holidays here are tied to the mountain-cum-agrarian identity - harvest celebrations, memorial days for local heroes, and traditional festivals that aren’t on other state lists.
- Extended Christmas break: In many parts of the state, due to a majority Christian population, the Christmas season stretches over several days. This keenly reflects the existing religious demographic in the state.
- Space for local flavor: District authorities have the flexibility to add local holidays that matter most to their own communities. This means that two towns might celebrate different events in March or July.
Also Read: Holiday List in Kerala 2027
FAQs
1. Do banks follow this state list?
Meghalayan banks generally follow the official state holiday calendar under the Negotiable Instruments Act. This includes national, regional, and cultural holidays, which are curated to create a single list that they can follow.
2. What are local holidays?
These are days designated by district administrations for festivals specific to places or communities, like Shad Suk Mynsiem or Garo Labour Corps Day. They’re not part of the statewide list but are officially recognized locally.
3. Are all districts equal in local holidays?
Most districts choose their local days, but in East Khasi Hills, the state government itself declares the local holidays for 2027.
4. Why are some days repeated around Christmas?
In Meghalaya, the Christmas season is a major community festival, celebrated over several connected days rather than just one — that’s why you’ll see multiple entries.
5. Does Meghalaya observe national holidays like the rest of India?
Of course! Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti, and similar dates are part of the calendar along with the unique local observances.
