Kerala Public Holidays List 2026

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.

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

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How 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Not all state holidays are mandatory for private companies. However, all State holidays that are also National holidays are required to be followed by all Private companies.