Srinagar, Dec 13 (JKNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Saturday notified the official list of holidays for the calendar year 2026, detailing provincial, local, restricted and bank holidays across the Union Territory through Government Orders No. 1894-JK(GAD) and 1895-JK(GAD) of 2025.
As per Annexure-B to Government Order No. 1894-JK(GAD), a copy of which lies with news agency JKNS, the Kashmir Province will observe provincial holidays on the Friday following Shab-i-Miraj, Urs Shah-i-Hamdan Sahib on January 23, 2026, Mela Khir Bhawani on June 22, 2026, and Urs Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Sahib on October 8, 2026. In the Jammu Province, Lohri on January 13, 2026, and Shri Guru Ravi Dass Ji’s Birthday on February 1, 2026, have been declared provincial holidays.
The notification also specifies several local holidays applicable to particular districts and tehsils. These include Mahavir Jayanti on March 26, Mela Bahu Fort on March 31, and Good Friday on April 3 for Jammu district; Urs Shah Farid-ud-Din Sahib on June 21 and Sarthal Devi Ji Yatra on July 21–22 for Kishtwar district; Kailash Yatra on September 9–10 and Mela Pat on September 18–19 for Bhaderwah and Bhalla tehsils; and Urs Shah Asrar-ud-Din Sahib on November 10 for Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban districts. Restricted holidays notified include Parshuram Jayanti, Martyr’s Day of Guru Arjun Dev Ji, Kabir Jayanti and Raksha Bandhan, while all Muslim holidays will remain subject to the appearance of the moon.
Meanwhile, the Annexure to Government Order No. 1895-JK(GAD) outlines holidays to be observed under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, by banks and financial institutions during 2026. These include Republic Day, Mahashivratri, Holi (Jammu province only), Shab-i-Qadr, Eid-ul-Fitr, Baisakhi, Eid-ul-Azha, Independence Day, Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi, Janmashtami, Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday, Accession Day, Diwali, Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Birthday and Christmas, among others.
The holiday orders have been issued by the General Administration Department and signed by Rohit Sharma, JKAS, Additional Secretary to the Government. (JKNS)
