# India festival production calendar 2026–27 for buyers > Plan production around Indian festivals from October 2026 to December 2027: Diwali, Dussehra, Chhath, Pongal, Holi, Eid and regional holidays by cluster. Source: https://sourcesquid.co/intelligence/india-festival-production-calendar/ [Logistics](https://sourcesquid.co/intelligence/?cat=logistics)6 min readUpdated 28 September 2026 # India festival production calendar: plan orders around the holidays Indian factories slow down or close around major festivals, above all Diwali, which falls on 8 November 2026 and 29 October 2027, when many plants close for several days to a week and migrant workers travel home. Regional festivals matter as much as national ones: Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Durga Puja in the east, Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra and Onam in Kerala. Build these dates into every production plan and ship date. **Anirudh** Founder and Director, SourceSquid · 15 years sourcing in India and China On this page 1. Why festivals matter more than the holiday list suggests 2. National festivals: October 2026 to December 2027 3. Regional festivals by cluster 4. Worked example: brass décor from Moradabad 5. Reading the holiday lists correctly 6. China and Vietnam in the same season 7. Planning rules that work Free · 48 hours Send us your part or product. We return costs, clusters and risks. [Get a free teardown](https://sourcesquid.co/start/?from=guide-festival-calendar) ## Key takeaways * Diwali is the biggest production break in India: 8 November 2026 and 29 October 2027. * Plan for a slow restart after Diwali and Chhath, when migrant workers return to industrial clusters over the following weeks. * The holidays that matter depend on the cluster's state: Pongal in Tiruppur, Durga Puja in Kolkata, Ganesh Chaturthi in Pune. * Moon-dependent dates, such as Eid, can move by a day. Keep a buffer. * For a China plus one plan, Chinese New Year (6 February 2027) and Vietnam's Tet fall close together: stagger lanes around them. On this page7 sections 1. Why festivals matter more than the holiday list suggests 2. National festivals: October 2026 to December 2027 3. Regional festivals by cluster 4. Worked example: brass décor from Moradabad 5. Reading the holiday lists correctly 6. China and Vietnam in the same season 7. Planning rules that work ## Why festivals matter more than the holiday list suggests A public holiday list tells you which days offices close. It does not tell you how a factory behaves around them. In India, the big festivals bring three effects: 1. **Closure.** Many factories close for the festival itself, and around Diwali often for several days to a week. 2. **Workforce travel.** Many industrial clusters rely on migrant workers who travel home for Diwali and Chhath. Output drops before the festival and recovers gradually after it. 3. **Supply chain knock-on.** Sub-suppliers, platers, packaging makers, transporters and ports slow down at the same time. So plan with working days, not calendar days, and add a buffer for the restart. The [festival and holiday planner](https://sourcesquid.co/tools/festival-and-holiday-planner/) counts working days for your factory’s state and working week. ## National festivals: October 2026 to December 2027 These dates are from the Government of India’s central holiday lists for 2026 and 2027. Moon-dependent dates can move by a day. Festival | 2026 | 2027 | Production impact ---|---|---|--- Gandhi Jayanti | 2 Oct | 2 Oct | National holiday; one day Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami) | 20 Oct | 9 Oct | One day, with Navratri celebrations in the days before Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) | 8 Nov | 29 Oct | The largest break: closures of several days to a week are common Guru Nanak Jayanti | 24 Nov | 14 Nov | Especially Punjab, Haryana and Delhi Christmas | 25 Dec | 25 Dec | One day Makar Sankranti | — | 14 Jan | Regional names include Uttarayan and Magha Bihu Republic Day | — | 26 Jan | National holiday Maha Shivaratri | — | 6 Mar | One day Eid al-Fitr | — | 10 Mar (may move a day) | Can slow clusters with large Muslim workforces Holi | — | 23 Mar (Holika Dahan 22 Mar) | Several slow days in northern clusters Eid al-Adha | — | 17 May (may move a day) | As Eid al-Fitr Independence Day | — | 15 Aug | National holiday Raksha Bandhan | — | 17 Aug | North and west especially Janmashtami | — | 25 Aug | One day Around Diwali, related days follow closely: in 2026, Govardhan Puja is 9 November and Bhai Duj 11 November; in 2027, Naraka Chaturdasi is 28 October, Govardhan Puja 30 October and Bhai Duj 31 October. ## Regional festivals by cluster Match the calendar to your factory’s state. A Tiruppur knitwear unit and a Ludhiana fastener plant have very different years. Region and clusters | Festivals to plan around ---|--- Tamil Nadu: [Tiruppur](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/clusters/tiruppur/), [Coimbatore](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/clusters/coimbatore/), [Chennai](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/clusters/chennai/), [Karur](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/clusters/karur/) | Pongal from 15 Jan 2027 (the state sets several days); Tamil New Year 14 Apr 2027; Diwali West Bengal and the east: [Kolkata–Howrah](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/clusters/kolkata/) | Durga Puja: 18–20 Oct 2026 and 6–8 Oct 2027 (Saptami to Navami); Bengali New Year 15 Apr 2027 Maharashtra: [Pune](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/clusters/pune/), [Mumbai–Thane](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/clusters/mumbai/) | Gudi Padwa 7 Apr 2027; Ganesh Chaturthi 4 Sep 2027 Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh: [Bengaluru](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/clusters/bengaluru/), [Hyderabad](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/clusters/hyderabad/) | Ugadi 7 Apr 2027; Ganesh Chaturthi 4 Sep 2027 Kerala: [Kochi](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/clusters/kochi/), [Alappuzha](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/clusters/alappuzha/) | Vishu 14 Apr 2027; Onam (Thiruvonam) 12 Sep 2027 Punjab and Haryana: [Ludhiana](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/clusters/ludhiana/), [Jalandhar](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/clusters/jalandhar/), [Panipat](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/clusters/panipat/) | Baisakhi 14 Apr 2027; Guru Nanak Jayanti; Diwali Delhi NCR and Uttar Pradesh: [Noida](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/clusters/noida/), [Faridabad](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/clusters/faridabad/), [Moradabad](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/clusters/moradabad/) | Diwali; Chhath Puja 15 Nov 2026 and 4 Nov 2027; Holi Gujarat: [Rajkot](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/clusters/rajkot/), [Morbi](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/clusters/morbi/), [Surat](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/clusters/surat/) | Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti) 14 Jan 2027; Diwali Chhath Puja deserves special attention. Many workers from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh travel home for it, which affects Delhi NCR and other industrial clusters in the weeks after Diwali. A plan that assumes full output in mid-November is usually optimistic. ## Worked example: brass décor from Moradabad A US retailer confirms an order for brass décor on Monday 5 October 2026 with a factory in [Moradabad](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/clusters/moradabad/), Uttar Pradesh. The factory works six days a week (Sunday off) and needs 36 working days. It has announced a Diwali closure from Saturday 7 to Thursday 12 November. Plan | Days removed | Completion ---|---|--- Calendar only, Sundays off | None | Saturday 14 November With holidays and closure | Dussehra (20 Oct); closure 7 and 9–12 Nov (8 Nov is a Sunday) | Saturday 21 November The festivals cost six working days, a full week. The inspection lands in the week of Guru Nanak Jayanti (24 November). With a slow post-Diwali restart, the buyer books the pre-shipment inspection for 25 November and the vessel for early December, rather than the late-November sailing the first plan suggested. ## Reading the holiday lists correctly A few details make the difference between a good plan and a surprise: * **Central and state lists differ.** The central government list covers offices in Delhi. States publish their own lists, and a factory follows its state’s list plus its own policy. * **Restricted holidays are optional days** that employees can choose. Durga Puja days, for example, appear as restricted holidays on the central list but are major holidays across much of the east. * **Factories set their own closures.** Two plants in the same cluster can close for different lengths around Diwali. Get each supplier’s calendar in writing. * **Weekly offs vary.** Many Indian factories work a six-day week with Sunday off; some close on another day. Plan with the supplier’s actual week. * **Moon-dependent festivals** such as Eid can move by a day at short notice. Do not plan a critical step on the day itself. ## China and Vietnam in the same season If you run a China plus one plan, overlay the other lanes: Country | Holiday | Dates ---|---|--- China | National Day / Golden Week | 1–7 October 2026 (make-up working day Saturday 10 October) China | Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) | Lunar New Year’s Day 6 February 2027; statutory holiday 5–8 February. Factories typically close for 2 to 4 weeks around it Vietnam | Tet | Lunar New Year’s Day 6 February 2027; a 4–10 February break for civil servants has been proposed but awaits approval; many factories close longer China | National Day / Golden Week | 1 October 2027 fixed; week-long break customary, 2027 dates not yet published India’s big break is in October and November; China’s and Vietnam’s are in late January and February. Two lanes let you move urgent volume to whichever country is working. The [second-source planner](https://sourcesquid.co/tools/second-source-planner/) helps split volume with this in mind. ## Planning rules that work * **Ask each supplier for its holiday and closure calendar in writing** by early September, for the rest of the year and the next. * **Plan in working days,** skipping weekly offs, public holidays and announced closures. * **Add a restart buffer** after Diwali, Chhath and Chinese New Year. * **Pull critical orders forward** so they ship before the break, and carry extra stock through it. The [safety stock](https://sourcesquid.co/tools/safety-stock/) and [reorder point](https://sourcesquid.co/tools/reorder-point/) calculators help size the cover. * **Avoid launching new tooling or samples** in the four weeks before a major festival. Approval meetings slip, and nothing moves until after. ## Free tools for this guide * [Logistics**Festival and holiday production planner**](https://sourcesquid.co/tools/festival-and-holiday-planner/) * [ Suppliers**India manufacturing cluster finder**](https://sourcesquid.co/tools/india-cluster-finder/) * [ Suppliers**Second-source planner**](https://sourcesquid.co/tools/second-source-planner/) * [ Planning**Reorder point calculator**](https://sourcesquid.co/tools/reorder-point/) * [ Planning**Safety stock calculator**](https://sourcesquid.co/tools/safety-stock/) ## In the India Sourcing Atlas [India Sourcing Atlas](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/)[Uttar Pradesh](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/states/uttar-pradesh/)[Tamil Nadu](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/states/tamil-nadu/)[Moradabad cluster](https://sourcesquid.co/india-atlas/clusters/moradabad/) ## Sources 1. [Government of India, DoPT: holidays for central government offices, 2026 (copy)](https://www.staffnews.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Holidays-to-be-observed-in-Central-Government-Offices-during-the-year-2026.pdf)www.staffnews.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Holidays-to-be-observed-in-Central-Government-Offices-during-the-year-2026.pdf 2. [Government of India, DoPT: holidays for central government offices, 2027 (copy)](https://www.staffnews.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Holiday-list-2027.pdf)www.staffnews.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Holiday-list-2027.pdf 3. [Government of China: public holiday rules from 2025](https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202411/12/content_WS67331f65c6d0868f4e8ecd9b.html)english.www.gov.cn/news/202411/12/content_WS67331f65c6d0868f4e8ecd9b.html 4. [Hong Kong SAR Government: general holidays 2027](https://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/holiday/2027.htm)www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/holiday/2027.htm 5. [VietnamPlus: proposed 2027 Tet holiday](https://en.vietnamplus.vn/ministry-proposes-seven-day-2027-lunar-new-year-holiday-post351704.vnp)en.vietnamplus.vn/ministry-proposes-seven-day-2027-lunar-new-year-holiday-post351704.vnp Checked on 28 September 2026. Rules and rates change: confirm against the official text before you act. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Written by [Anirudh](https://sourcesquid.co/principals/) 15 years in sourcing, vendor development and quality across India and China. MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. Founder of SourceSquid, with offices in Bengaluru and Ningbo. India festival calendar: questions ## Straight answers. Anything else, ask us directly. A principal replies, not a bot. [anirudh@sourcesquid.co](mailto:anirudh@sourcesquid.co) ### When do Indian factories close for Diwali? Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) falls on 8 November 2026 and 29 October 2027. Many factories close for several days to a week around it, and output stays below normal for some time afterwards while workers return. Ask each supplier for its closure dates in writing by early September. ### Which Indian festivals affect production most? Diwali nationally, followed by Dussehra and Durga Puja in October, Chhath Puja in November for clusters that employ workers from Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, Holi in March in the north, and regional festivals such as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra and Onam in Kerala. ### How much buffer should I add for festivals? Count the festival days and the factory's announced closure as non-working days, then add a buffer for the slow restart. The festival and holiday planner counts working days for you by country, state and working week. ### Do all Indian states have the same holidays? No. National holidays such as Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti apply across India, but many festival holidays are set by state governments. Always check the calendar for the state where your factory is. ### Is Chinese New Year relevant if I source from India? Yes, if you run a China plus one plan, or if your Indian supplier uses components or materials from China. Chinese factories typically close for two to four weeks around Chinese New Year, which falls on 6 February 2027. ## Keep reading [All guides](https://sourcesquid.co/intelligence/) * [Sourcing · 7 min**China plus one sourcing: how to add a second source without losing the first** A practical China plus one guide: which products move well, India versus Vietnam, tooling transfer, landed-cost comparison and a realistic 12 to 20 week plan.](https://sourcesquid.co/intelligence/china-plus-one-sourcing-guide/) * [Quality · 7 min**Pre-shipment inspection checklist: what your inspector should check** A pre-shipment inspection checklist for goods from India and China: timing, quantity, packing, AQL workmanship, measurements, on-site tests and the report.](https://sourcesquid.co/intelligence/pre-shipment-inspection-checklist/) * [Sourcing · 7 min**How to find manufacturers in India: a six-step method that works** How to find and vet manufacturers in India: start from the process, pick the right cluster, check GST and IEC records, run an RFQ, audit, and approve samples.](https://sourcesquid.co/intelligence/how-to-find-manufacturers-in-india/) Free sourcing teardown ## A production plan that survives Diwali. Tell us your cluster, quantity and ship date. We return a working-day plan with every holiday and closure your order will meet, free. [Get a free teardown in 48 hours](https://sourcesquid.co/start/?from=guide-festival-calendar)[Talk to a principal](https://sourcesquid.co/contact/)