Public Holidays in August 2026
August marks the transition from summer vacations to the rhythm of daily life, but it still brings a rich array of festivals and holidays to enjoy across India. From national celebrations like Independence Day to regional harvest festivals and spiritual observances, August 2026 offers opportunities to connect with culture, family, and community. Many of these festivals combine tradition, rituals, and local folklore, making them both meaningful and colorful.
List of Holidays in August 2026
| Date and Day | Occasion | Regions Where Celebrated |
| 8 August 2026, Saturday | Tendong Lho Rum Faat | Sikkim |
| 15 August 2026, Saturday | Independence Day | Across India |
| 16 August 2026, Sunday | Parsi New Year (Jamshed–i-Noroz) | Parsi communities & several states |
| 26 August 2026, Wednesday | Onam / Thiruvonam | Kerala (main festival days) |
| 27 August 2026, Thursday | Third Onam | Kerala |
| 27 August 2026, Thursday | Jhulan Purnima | Odisha and Krishna devotees |
| 28 August 2026, Friday | Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi) | Across many states in India |
Detailed Description of Festival Holidays
1. Tendong Lho Rum Faat
Tendong Lho Rum Faat is a major festival in Sikkim, mostly celebrated by the Lepcha community. It is a prayer festival where people seek blessings for protection against natural disasters, especially floods.
- Devotees make nine sacred stone replicas of Mount Tendong and perform rituals around them.
- People dress in traditional attire, sing folk songs, and perform dances while wearing ceremonial masks.
- The festival is an expression of nature worship and gratitude to the mountains.
2. Independence Day
Independence Day (15 August) celebrates India’s freedom from British colonial rule in 1947. It is observed nationwide with patriotic fervor.
- The Prime Minister raises the flag at the Red Fort and talks to the nation.
- Schools, government offices, and public spaces host parades, cultural programs, and flag-hoisting ceremonies.
- Citizens pay tribute to freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the nation’s liberty.
3. Parsi New Year (Jamshed-i-Noroz)
The Parsi New Year, or Jamshed-i-Noroz, follows the Zoroastrian calendar and celebrates the start of a new year for the Parsi community.
- Parsis clean and decorate their homes, wear new traditional clothes, and visit fire temples to pray for prosperity and forgiveness.
- Families prepare special dishes like sev-dahi, dhansak, and sali par eedu for their feasts.
- Community gatherings often include cultural programs and traditional music.
4. Onam
Onam is Kerala’s harvest festival, celebrated with grandeur and joy. It honors the legendary King Mahabali, who, according to mythology, visits Kerala during this time.
- People make pookalam (intricate floral designs) at the entrance of homes.
- Traditional Onam Sadya, a feast of 26+ dishes, is served on banana leaves.
- Cultural events such as Vallam Kali (boat races), dance forms such as Thiruvathira, and folk songs highlight Kerala’s rich heritage.
5. Third Onam
The celebrations of Third Onam continue the harvest festival with community feasts and temple rituals.
- Families continue decorating their homes and courtyards with flowers.
- Communities organize cultural programs, local games, and fairs to foster social harmony.
6. Jhulan Purnima
Jhulan Purnima is a monsoon festival dedicated to Radha and Krishna.
- Temples decorate Radha-Krishna idols on swings (jhulas) and sing devotional songs.
- Devotees swing the idols gently as part of ritual worship.
- The festival celebrates love, devotion, and the joyous spirit of the monsoon season.
7. Raksha Bandhan
Raksha Bandhan, commonly called Rakhi (thread), celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters.
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- Sisters tie a rakhi on their brothers’ wrists and pray for their well-being.
- Brothers give gifts in return and vow to protect their sisters.
- The festival has roots in mythology, such as the tale of Draupadi tying a cloth to Krishna’s wrist to symbolize protection.
