May brings the peak of summer to Jharkhand, along with a calendar full of religious observances, a tribute to one of the state’s own icons, and an important addition this year — Adhik Maas, the extra lunar month that reshuffles a few familiar dates. If you’re searching for the Jharkhand Calendar 2026 May, this guide gives you the complete day-by-day breakdown of festivals, gazetted holidays, and bank holidays, along with a free downloadable PDF for offline reference.
Whether you’re a government employee tracking gazetted holidays, a student planning around exams, a bank customer managing transactions, or someone who follows the Panchang for fasting and puja days, this article has it all organized in one place.
What Makes May 2026 Different
This year, May carries a small but important twist for anyone who follows the Hindu lunar calendar closely — the presence of Adhik Maas (also called Purushottam Maas), an extra month added periodically to keep the lunar and solar calendars in sync. You’ll notice this reflected in the listing for Padmini Ekadashi, a name specifically used for the Ekadashi that falls during Adhik Maas. Beyond that, May is also special because it honors Pt. Raghunath Murmu, the creator of the Ol Chiki script for the Santhali language, a figure of deep pride and importance for Jharkhand’s tribal communities.
Jharkhand Calendar 2026 May – Full Festival & Holiday List
Here’s the complete day-wise list of festivals and holidays for May 2026 in Jharkhand:
| Date | Day | Festival / Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 May | Friday | Buddha Purnima / Pt. Raghunath Murmu Jayanti | Gazetted Holiday |
| 01 May | Friday | Labour Day | Executive Holiday |
| 05 May | Tuesday | Sankashti Chaturthi | Religious / Panchang |
| 08 May | Friday | Pradosh Vrat (Krishna) | Religious / Panchang |
| 09 May | Saturday | 2nd Saturday | Bank Holiday |
| 13 May | Wednesday | Apara Ekadashi | Religious / Panchang |
| 15 May | Friday | Vat Savitri Vrat / Masik Shivaratri | Religious Observance |
| 16 May | Saturday | Jyeshtha Amavasya (Shani Amavasya) | Religious / Panchang |
| 23 May | Saturday | Pradosh Vrat (Shukla) | Religious / Panchang |
| 23 May | Saturday | 4th Saturday | Bank Holiday |
| 27 May | Wednesday | Eid-ul-Adha / Bakrid | Gazetted Holiday |
| 27 May | Wednesday | Padmini Ekadashi (Adhik Maas) | Religious / Panchang |
This table gives you the quick overview, but let’s go through each date in detail so you understand its significance and how it might affect your work, banking, or festival planning this month.
Download the Jharkhand Calendar 2026 May PDF
For offline access, you can download the complete Jharkhand Calendar for May 2026 in PDF format. It’s a handy, printable version you can pin on your wall, put up on an office notice board, or save on your phone for quick reference anytime.
Detailed Look at May 2026 Festivals and Holidays in Jharkhand
Buddha Purnima / Pt. Raghunath Murmu Jayanti – 1 May (Friday)
The month opens with a date of dual importance. Buddha Purnima marks the birth anniversary of Lord Gautam Buddha and is observed with prayers, meditation sessions, and gatherings at Buddhist monasteries and temples across the state. The same day also honors Pt. Raghunath Murmu, celebrated as the creator of the Ol Chiki script used for writing the Santhali language. His contribution gave the Santhal community a written identity of their own, and his birth anniversary is observed with great respect across Jharkhand, particularly in areas with a strong Santhali population. Both observances are marked as gazetted holidays.
Labour Day – 1 May (Friday)
Also falling on the same day, Labour Day (International Workers’ Day) recognizes the contributions of the working class and is observed as an executive holiday in Jharkhand. Trade unions and worker organizations often hold small events and programs to mark the occasion.
Sankashti Chaturthi – 5 May (Tuesday)
Dedicated to Lord Ganesha, this monthly observance sees devotees fasting through the day and breaking their fast after sighting the moon in the evening. It’s a ritual followed faithfully by many households across Jharkhand every month.
Pradosh Vrat (Krishna) – 8 May (Friday)
Pradosh Vrat is a twice-monthly fasting ritual dedicated to Lord Shiva, observed on the Trayodashi (13th day) of each lunar fortnight. Devotees pray for good health, prosperity, and protection from obstacles.
Apara Ekadashi – 13 May (Wednesday)
Apara Ekadashi falls in the Krishna Paksha of the Jyeshtha month and is considered highly meritorious. Devotees who observe this fast believe it removes sins related to false speech and dishonest dealings, bringing peace of mind and spiritual clarity.
Vat Savitri Vrat / Masik Shivaratri – 15 May (Friday)
Vat Savitri Vrat is one of the most significant observances for married women, who fast and pray around a banyan tree for the long life and wellbeing of their husbands, inspired by the legend of Savitri and Satyavan. The same day also marks Masik Shivaratri, the monthly observance dedicated to Lord Shiva, adding further religious weight to this date.
Jyeshtha Amavasya (Shani Amavasya) – 16 May (Saturday)
This no-moon day falls in the Jyeshtha month and is specifically referred to as Shani Amavasya, considered significant for prayers dedicated to Lord Shani (Saturn). Many devotees visit Shani temples, perform rituals for peace, and offer prayers to reduce the malefic effects of Shani in their horoscope. It’s also a traditional day for ancestral worship and charity.
Pradosh Vrat (Shukla) – 23 May (Saturday)
The second Pradosh Vrat of the month falls on this date, observed in the Shukla Paksha this time. As with the earlier Pradosh Vrat, devotees fast and pray to Lord Shiva for health and prosperity.
Eid-ul-Adha / Bakrid – 27 May (Wednesday)
Eid-ul-Adha, also known as Bakrid, is one of the most significant festivals for the Muslim community, commemorating the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to make a sacrifice as an act of obedience to God. The day is marked with special prayers at mosques, followed by family gatherings and the traditional practice of Qurbani (sacrifice). It’s observed as a gazetted holiday across Jharkhand. As with all Islamic dates, the exact day may shift slightly based on moon sighting.
Padmini Ekadashi (Adhik Maas) – 27 May (Wednesday)
Falling on the same day as Bakrid, Padmini Ekadashi is a special Ekadashi observed specifically during Adhik Maas, the extra lunar month added periodically to align the lunar and solar calendars. This Ekadashi is considered especially auspicious, as fasting during Adhik Maas is believed to bring amplified spiritual benefits compared to a regular month.
Bank Holidays in May 2026
As per the RBI’s holiday schedule, banks in Jharkhand remain closed on all Sundays and on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month. In May 2026, this translates to:
- All Sundays – 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st May
- 9 May (Saturday) – 2nd Saturday Bank Holiday
- 23 May (Saturday) – 4th Saturday Bank Holiday
Banks will also remain closed on gazetted holidays such as Buddha Purnima / Pt. Raghunath Murmu Jayanti (1 May) and Eid-ul-Adha / Bakrid (27 May). With several closures spread across the month, it’s worth planning important banking work a few days in advance, especially around the last week of May.
How to Use This Calendar Effectively
- Government employees should plan leave around the two gazetted holidays this month, keeping in mind that 1 May combines two separate observances.
- Bank customers should note the multiple closures, particularly the overlap of Bakrid with the last week of the month.
- Students and job seekers can plan study schedules around Buddha Purnima and Bakrid, when many institutions may declare short breaks.
- Married women observing Vat Savitri Vrat should mark 15 May, a significant day involving prayers around the banyan tree.
- Devotees following the Panchang have an especially active month, with two Ekadashis, two Pradosh Vrats, Sankashti Chaturthi, Masik Shivaratri, and Shani Amavasya — plus the added significance of Adhik Maas.
Understanding Adhik Maas and Why It Matters This Year
Adhik Maas, sometimes called Purushottam Maas or Mal Maas, is an extra lunar month inserted into the Hindu calendar roughly once every 2-3 years to keep it aligned with the solar year. During this period, several regular observances — like Ekadashi — take on special names and are considered to carry heightened spiritual significance. This is why you’ll see “Padmini Ekadashi” rather than a standard Ekadashi name later in May 2026. If you follow Panchang-based rituals closely, this is a good year to pay extra attention to fasting and charitable acts during this window, as tradition holds that actions performed during Adhik Maas yield greater merit.
Jharkhand Calendar vs National Calendar – What’s Different?
While Buddha Purnima, Labour Day, and Eid-ul-Adha are recognized nationally, Pt. Raghunath Murmu Jayanti is a date that holds special regional importance in Jharkhand and neighboring states with significant Santhali populations. This is a detail that generic national calendars often leave out entirely, which is exactly why a localized calendar like this one is valuable — it captures the dates that matter specifically to Jharkhand’s communities alongside the widely recognized national and religious observances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How many gazetted holidays are there in Jharkhand in May 2026? May 2026 has two gazetted holiday dates: Buddha Purnima / Pt. Raghunath Murmu Jayanti (1 May) and Eid-ul-Adha / Bakrid (27 May).
Q2. Who was Pt. Raghunath Murmu, and why is his Jayanti observed in Jharkhand? Pt. Raghunath Murmu created the Ol Chiki script for the Santhali language, giving the Santhal community a written script of their own. His birth anniversary is observed as a gazetted holiday in recognition of this contribution.
Q3. What is Adhik Maas, and how does it affect the May 2026 calendar? Adhik Maas is an extra lunar month added periodically to align the Hindu lunar calendar with the solar year. In May 2026, this results in Padmini Ekadashi, a specially named Ekadashi unique to Adhik Maas.
Q4. How many bank holidays are there in May 2026? Apart from Sundays, banks remain closed on the 2nd Saturday (9 May), the 4th Saturday (23 May), and gazetted holidays like Buddha Purnima and Bakrid.
Q5. Is Labour Day a gazetted holiday in Jharkhand? No, Labour Day on 1 May 2026 is observed as an executive holiday rather than a gazetted one, though it coincides with the gazetted holiday for Buddha Purnima / Pt. Raghunath Murmu Jayanti on the same date.
Q6. When is Vat Savitri Vrat observed in 2026? Vat Savitri Vrat falls on 15 May 2026, the same day as Masik Shivaratri.