Holidays are spread through different regions, calendars and ethnicities; In Kerala they play a critical role in shaping workforce planning and operational continuity. Holidays influence attendance, staffing requirements, and employee expectations throughout the year. Many organizations operate from multiple locations and not only from Kerala which makes managing public holidays difficult, especially when it varies from region to region. Tackling public holidays is essential to ensure fairness, compliance, and consistency, while balancing business needs with employee well-being.
Holiday calendar 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2 | Friday | Mannam Jayanthi | Regional |
| Jan 26 | Monday | Republic Day | National |
| Mar 20 | Friday | Id-Ul-Fitr (Ramzan) | Regional |
| Apr 1 | Wednesday | Annual Closing of Accounts of Banks | Regional |
| Apr 2 | Thursday | Maundy Thursday | Regional |
| Apr 3 | Friday | Good Friday | Regional |
| Apr 5 | Sunday | Easter | Regional |
| Apr 14 | Tuesday | Dr Ambedkar Jayanthi/Vishu | Regional |
| Apr 15 | Wednesday | Vishu | Regional |
| May 1 | Friday | May Day | National |
| May 27 | Wednesday | Id-Ul-Adha (Bakrid) | Regional |
| Jun 25 | Thursday | Muharram | Regional |
| Aug 12 | Wednesday | Karkkadaka Vaavu | Regional |
| Aug 15 | Saturday | Independence Day | National |
| Aug 25 | Tuesday | First Onam/Milad-i-Sherif | Regional |
| Aug 26 | Wednesday | Thiruvonam | Regional |
| Aug 27 | Thursday | Third Onam | Regional |
| Aug 28 | Friday | Fourth Onam/Sree Narayana Guru Jayanthi/Ayyankali | Regional |
| Sep 4 | Friday | Sreekrishna Jayanthi | Regional |
| Sep 21 | Monday | Sree Narayana Guru Jayanthi Samadhi Day | Regional |
| Oct 2 | Friday | Gandhi Jayanthi | National |
| Oct 20 | Tuesday | Maha Navami | Regional |
| Oct 21 | Wednesday | Vijayadasami | Regional |
| Nov 8 | Sunday | Deepavali | Regional |
| Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas | Regional |
Get the Official Kerala Government Notification
Download PDFHow Kerala Holidays Impact Payroll and Leave Management?
Every region, and state, operates differently when it comes to Public Holidays. When we talk about Onam celebrations in Kerala feel like a grand celebration - people are on leave and enjoying their personal time. All this is bound to bring changes in attendance, increased leave requests, and varied working arrangements which impacts payroll accuracy and leave processes for both employers and employees.
While all of these issues can impact adversely, if enterprises are well-prepared and rely on technology instead of human intervention; it will help in aligning pay cycles, overtime, and statutory requirements without disruption. This not just eases processes for the employer but aids employees while providing clarity on leave entitlements, pay calculations, and timely compensation during a high-expectation period.