With the J&K Government having released the list of official holidays for the calendar year 2026, political row over restoration of few occasions as holidays is far from over as once again , birth anniversary of National Conference founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah on December 5 and Martyrs’ Day on July 13 have been excluded.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah led political government has been insisting on restoration of these as holidays to which the party NC assumes much significance. While in the past these would be government holidays for decades, post abrogation of Article 370 both were dropped from the list. Many times during the last two years while NC has vehemently raising demands on this, observers see this failure of CM Omar Abdullah yet again in getting this restored.
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.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.
Meanwhile, 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.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.
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