The DoPT holiday list for 2027 has 17 gazetted holidays for central government offices in Delhi, but five of those dates fall on a Saturday or Sunday. The best bridges are Holi and Good Friday in March (9 days for 3 leave days), Ram Navami to Mahavir Jayanti in April (5 days for 1 leave day) and mid-May (6 days for 2).
Updated October 2026 · HappyFares
The 2027 calendar has been published, so you can start booking leave and flights early. Every weekday below has been checked against the calendar, and the holidays come from the DoPT list as reproduced by several staff-news sites, so check the original Office Memorandum before you finalise leave.
Where does the 2027 holiday list come from?
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued the 2027 holiday list for central government offices in Delhi and New Delhi in an Office Memorandum dated 16 July 2026. It names 17 gazetted holidays. Offices outside Delhi follow a related scheme, with a fixed set of holidays plus a few that are decided for each state capital.
Three caveats matter for planning. First, state governments publish their own lists, so your holidays may differ, and regional festivals can add or change days. Second, the dates of Id-ul-Fitr, Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) and Muharram depend on moon sighting and can move by a day at short notice, and some panchangs place Holi on Monday 22 March rather than the list’s Tuesday 23 March. Third, if a festival falls on a weekly off, the central list does not give an alternate day. If your employer follows a private holiday calendar, use these dates only as a guide.
Wondering about the rest of this year? Our festive long weekends planner for October to December 2026 covers it.
Which 2027 holidays fall on a weekend?
Five dates in the list land on a Saturday or Sunday, so they give no extra day off:
- Independence Day, Sunday 15 August (Id-e-Milad is listed on the same day)
- Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday, Saturday 2 October
- Dussehra, Saturday 9 October
- Guru Nanak’s Birthday, Sunday 14 November
- Christmas Day, Saturday 25 December
They still make fine weekend getaways, but they will not stretch your leave, so plan your annual leave around the other dates.
What is the month-by-month leave plan for 2027?
This table shows the central holidays that sit usefully next to a weekend, the leave you would need, and the break you get.
| Month | Holiday | Take leave on | Break |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Republic Day, Tuesday 26 January | Monday 25 January (1 day) | Sat 23 to Tue 26: 4 days |
| March | Id-ul-Fitr, Wednesday 10 March (moon-dependent) | Thursday 11 and Friday 12 March (2 days) | Wed 10 to Sun 14: 5 days |
| March | Holi, Tuesday 23 March, and Good Friday, Friday 26 March | Monday 22, Wednesday 24, Thursday 25 March (3 days) | Sat 20 to Sun 28: 9 days |
| April | Ram Navami, Thursday 15 April, and Mahavir Jayanti, Monday 19 April | Friday 16 April (1 day) | Thu 15 to Mon 19: 5 days |
| May | Id-ul-Zuha, Monday 17 May (moon-dependent), and Budha Purnima, Thursday 20 May | Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 May (2 days) | Sat 15 to Thu 20: 6 days |
| June | Muharram, Wednesday 16 June (moon-dependent) | Thursday 17 and Friday 18 June (2 days) | Wed 16 to Sun 20: 5 days |
| August | Janmashtami, Wednesday 25 August | Thursday 26 and Friday 27 August (2 days) | Wed 25 to Sun 29: 5 days |
| October | Diwali, Friday 29 October | None needed | Fri 29 to Sun 31: 3 days |
Two easy extras: the Holi and Good Friday block can be shortened to just Monday 22 March for a four-day weekend, and in May you can add Friday 21 May to stretch to nine days with three leave days.
When should you book flights for these breaks?
Bridge weekends get booked early because everyone spots the same gaps. As a general habit, fares for popular routes tend to climb as a holiday block approaches, and the Holi and Good Friday stretch and the May block are likely to be among the busiest. Book once your leave is approved, and set a price alert if you are still deciding. For the moon-dependent holidays (Id-ul-Fitr, Bakrid, Muharram), prefer a flight that allows free or low-cost changes in case the date shifts by a day.
Where should you go in each season?
These are broad ideas, not forecasts. Weather varies by year, so check conditions close to your dates.
- January to February: Rajasthan’s forts and cities, Goa, Kerala and the southern coast are usually comfortable. Northern airports can see fog, so avoid the tightest connections.
- March: Holi is celebrated strongly around Mathura and Vrindavan, and the 9-day block suits a longer trip such as the Andaman Islands or Kerala.
- April to June: Hill country tends to be the usual escape, from Himachal and Uttarakhand to Sikkim, Darjeeling and Ladakh once the passes open.
- August: The monsoon is a good time for the Western Ghats, Kerala and Meghalaya, with the risk of rain delays.
- October and November: Festival season. Plan around family travel, and expect heavy demand around Diwali.
Did you know? Airlines plan their flying in two seasons a year, a summer schedule and a winter schedule, which is why routes and timings often change in late March and late October.
Common Questions
How many gazetted holidays are there in 2027?
The DoPT list for Delhi and New Delhi offices has 17 gazetted holidays, with Independence Day and Id-e-Milad both on Sunday 15 August 2027.
When is Diwali in 2027?
The central list shows Diwali on Friday 29 October 2027, which gives a three-day weekend. Some states add days around it.
What is the best long weekend in 2027?
Holi and Good Friday in March, with three leave days, give nine days off from Saturday 20 to Sunday 28 March. For the least leave, Ram Navami and Mahavir Jayanti in April give five days for one leave day.
Is Raksha Bandhan a holiday in 2027?
It is not on the gazetted list we reviewed. It may be a restricted or state holiday, so check your own employer’s calendar.
Do these dates apply to private companies and states?
Not automatically. Private employers and state governments publish their own lists, so confirm yours before booking.
Can holiday dates change?
Yes. Moon-dependent festivals can shift by a day, and governments can add or amend holidays.
Found your gap? Compare flights for your dates on HappyFares, set a price alert so you can book when fares dip, or ask Meera, our AI assistant, for ideas. Domestic bookings carry zero convenience fee.
Holiday lists, moon-dependent dates and airline schedules can change. Check your employer’s calendar, your state’s holiday list and your airline before you book.
