Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 13: The J&K Government released the list of official holidays for the calendar year 2026, once again excluding the birth anniversary of National Conference founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah on December 5 and Martyrs’ Day on July 13.
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The General Administration Department (GAD) issued two separate orders—Government Order No. 1895-JK(GAD) of 2025 and Government Order No. 1894-JK(GAD) of 2025—detailing holidays to be observed across the Union Territory during 2026.
Government Order No. 1895-JK(GAD) of 2025, issued under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, applies mainly to banks and allied institutions.
It notified 25 public holidays, including Republic Day, Mahashivratri, Holi in Jammu province, Shab-i-Qadr, Navratra, Jumat-ul-Vida, Eid-ul-Fitr, annual bank closing, Baisakhi, Dr B R Ambedkar’s birth anniversary, Buddha Purnima, Eid-ul-Azha, Ashoora, Independence Day, Guru Hargobind Ji’s birthday, Eid-i-Milad-un-Nabi, Janmashtami, Maharaja Hari Singh’s birthday, Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, Dussehra, Accession Day, Diwali, Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birthday and Christmas Day.
All Muslim holidays, the order stated, will be subject to moon sighting.
Separately, Government Order No. 1894-JK(GAD) of 2025 specified holidays for Government offices and educational institutions across J&K.
These include major national and religious observances such as Republic Day, Independence Day, Mahashivratri, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Azha, Janmashtami, Diwali, Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birthday and Christmas, among others.
Muslim holidays under this order are also subject to the appearance of the moon.
The order further outlined provincial, local and restricted holidays.
In Kashmir province, provincial holidays include the Friday following Shab-i-Miraj, Urs Shah-i-Hamdan Sahib, Mela Khir Bhawani and Urs Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Sahib.
In Jammu province, Lohri, Shri Guru Ravi Dass’s birthday and Holi have been notified as provincial holidays.
Local holidays have been declared for select districts and areas, including Mela Bahu Fort in Jammu district, Urs Shah Farid-ud-Din Sahib in Kishtwar, and Sarthal Devi Ji Yatra, Kailash Yatra and Mela Pat in parts of Doda and Kishtwar.
Restricted holidays include Mahavir Jayanti, Good Friday, Parshuram Jayanti, Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjun Dev Ji, Kabir Jayanti and Raksha Bandhan, with applicability varying by district or province.
It is pertinent to note that efforts of the NC-led Government to restore official holidays on December 5 and July 13 have so far not yielded results.
Earlier this year, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the Martyrs’ Graveyard on July 14 in Srinagar, where he was seen scaling the boundary wall to enter the premises and pay tribute.
The party demanded the restoration of the holiday, but to no avail.
On December 5, NC leaders, after paying tribute to party founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah reiterated their demand for official recognition of his birth anniversary.
They said Sheikh Abdullah continues to live in the hearts of the people and expressed confidence that December 5 would eventually be declared a public holiday in view of his legacy.
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