October is festival season in full swing across Jharkhand, anchored by the nine nights of Navratri, the grandeur of Durga Puja, and the joy of Dussehra. Add to that two important national tributes — Gandhi Jayanti and Sardar Patel Jayanti — and you get a month that balances deep religious tradition with national remembrance. If you’re searching for the Jharkhand Calendar 2026 October, 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 the festive break, 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.
Jharkhand Calendar 2026 October – Full Festival & Holiday List
Here’s the complete day-wise list of festivals and holidays for October 2026 in Jharkhand:
| Date | Day | Festival / Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02 October | Friday | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti | Gazetted Holiday |
| 07 October | Wednesday | Indira Ekadashi | Religious / Panchang |
| 09 October | Friday | Pradosh Vrat (Krishna) | Religious / Panchang |
| 10 October | Saturday | 2nd Saturday | Bank Holiday |
| 11 October | Sunday | Mahalaya Amavasya / Shardiya Navratri Begins | Major Festival |
| 17 October | Saturday | Tula Sankranti | Religious / Panchang |
| 18 October | Sunday | Dussehra (Maha Saptami) | Religious Observance |
| 19 October | Monday | Maha Ashtami | Gazetted Holiday |
| 20 October | Tuesday | Maha Navami / Vijaya Dashami | Gazetted Holiday |
| 21 October | Wednesday | Papankusha Ekadashi | Religious / Panchang |
| 24 October | Saturday | Pradosh Vrat (Shukla) | Religious / Panchang |
| 24 October | Saturday | 4th Saturday | Bank Holiday |
| 25 October | Sunday | Sharad Purnima / Valmiki Jayanti | Religious Observance |
| 29 October | Thursday | Karwa Chauth / Sankashti Chaturthi | Religious Observance |
| 31 October | Saturday | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti | National Observance |
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 October PDF
For offline access, you can download the complete Jharkhand Calendar for October 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 October 2026 Festivals and Holidays in Jharkhand
Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti – 2 October (Friday)
The month opens with Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti, marking the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation. Across Jharkhand, tributes are paid at Gandhi statues, prayer meetings are held, and schools organize programs highlighting his philosophy of non-violence and truth. It’s a gazetted holiday observed nationwide.
Indira Ekadashi – 7 October (Wednesday)
Indira Ekadashi falls in the Krishna Paksha of the Ashwin month and is considered especially significant for honoring one’s ancestors. Devotees observe a fast believing it helps liberate the souls of departed family members and brings peace to the household.
Pradosh Vrat (Krishna) – 9 October (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 and the removal of obstacles.
Mahalaya Amavasya / Shardiya Navratri Begins – 11 October (Sunday)
Mahalaya Amavasya marks the end of Pitru Paksha and is observed with rituals honoring departed ancestors, often including offerings at riverbanks. The very same day marks the beginning of Shardiya Navratri, the nine-night festival dedicated to Goddess Durga in her various forms. This transition — from a solemn day of ancestral remembrance to the joyous start of Navratri — is one of the most symbolically rich moments on the entire yearly calendar, marking the goddess’s arrival right after paying respects to those who came before.
Tula Sankranti – 17 October (Saturday)
Tula Sankranti marks the sun’s transition into the Libra zodiac sign as per the solar calendar, falling right in the middle of the Navratri festivities this year and adding an astrological dimension to an already significant stretch of days.
Dussehra (Maha Saptami) – 18 October (Sunday)
As Navratri progresses, Maha Saptami marks the seventh day, when Durga Puja pandals across Jharkhand see the formal invocation of the goddess. Cultural programs, traditional music, and community gatherings pick up pace as the festival builds toward its climax.
Maha Ashtami – 19 October (Monday)
Maha Ashtami, the eighth day of Navratri, is considered one of the most powerful days of the festival, associated with the worship of Goddess Mahagauri. Many households and pandals perform Kanya Puja on this day, honoring young girls as living representations of the goddess. It’s observed as a gazetted holiday.
Maha Navami / Vijaya Dashami – 20 October (Tuesday)
This date marks the culmination of Navratri with Maha Navami, the ninth and final day of goddess worship, immediately followed by Vijaya Dashami (Dussehra), celebrating the victory of good over evil — symbolized by Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana and Goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahishasura. Effigies of Ravana are burnt at public grounds across Jharkhand, and Durga idols are taken out in grand processions for immersion. It’s recognized as a gazetted holiday, and one of the most widely anticipated days of the year.
Papankusha Ekadashi – 21 October (Wednesday)
Falling just a day after Vijaya Dashami, Papankusha Ekadashi is observed in the Shukla Paksha of the Ashwin month. Devotees fast and pray to Lord Vishnu, believing it removes sins accumulated through actions, words, and thoughts.
Pradosh Vrat (Shukla) – 24 October (Saturday)
The second Pradosh Vrat of the month falls on this date, with devotees continuing the tradition of fasting and prayer dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Sharad Purnima / Valmiki Jayanti – 25 October (Sunday)
Sharad Purnima, the full moon night of the Ashwin month, is considered especially auspicious, with many people preparing kheer (rice pudding) and leaving it under the moonlight overnight before consuming it the next morning. The same day honors Valmiki Jayanti, celebrating the birth of Maharishi Valmiki, the author of the original Ramayana, with prayers and readings held at temples dedicated to him.
Karwa Chauth / Sankashti Chaturthi – 29 October (Thursday)
Karwa Chauth is one of the most significant days for married women, who observe a strict fast from sunrise until moonrise, praying for the long life and wellbeing of their husbands. The fast is broken only after sighting the moon through a sieve. This date also coincides with the regular monthly Sankashti Chaturthi dedicated to Lord Ganesha, making it a particularly devotion-filled day for many households.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti – 31 October (Saturday)
The month closes with tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, revered as the Iron Man of India for his role in unifying princely states after independence. Observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day), the day sees pledge-taking ceremonies, marches, and programs promoting national integration across schools and government offices in Jharkhand.
Bank Holidays in October 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 October 2026, this translates to:
- All Sundays – 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th October
- 10 October (Saturday) – 2nd Saturday Bank Holiday
- 24 October (Saturday) – 4th Saturday Bank Holiday
Banks will also remain closed on gazetted holidays, including Gandhi Jayanti (2 October), Maha Ashtami (19 October), and Maha Navami/Vijaya Dashami (20 October). With Navratri and Dussehra bringing multiple consecutive closures in the third week of the month, it’s a good idea to plan any essential banking work well before mid-October.
How to Use This Calendar Effectively
- Government employees should plan leave carefully around the cluster of gazetted holidays in the third week — Maha Ashtami and Vijaya Dashami fall on consecutive days.
- Bank customers should note the multiple closures during Navratri week in addition to the standard Saturday and Sunday holidays.
- Students should expect extended breaks around Dussehra, as many schools close for the entire Navratri period.
- Married women observing Karwa Chauth should mark 29 October, which conveniently coincides with Sankashti Chaturthi this year.
- Devotees following the Panchang face one of the most active months of the year, with two Ekadashis, two Pradosh Vrats, Amavasya, Purnima, and the entire nine-night Navratri festival packed into October.
Navratri and Durga Puja: The Heart of October in Jharkhand
While Navratri is celebrated across India, its expression in Jharkhand carries a distinct flavor shaped by the state’s proximity to West Bengal and its own cultural blend. Elaborate Durga Puja pandals, often built around creative themes, become community hubs for cultural performances, food stalls, and evening gatherings throughout the nine nights. For many families, this isn’t just a religious observance — it’s the social and cultural high point of the entire year, second only to a handful of other major festivals.
Jharkhand Calendar vs National Calendar – What’s Different?
Gandhi Jayanti, Dussehra, and Sardar Patel Jayanti are recognized across India, but the specific way Durga Puja is celebrated in Jharkhand — with its pandal culture and community-driven immersion processions — reflects the state’s own regional character within a broader national festival. A generic calendar might mark the dates, but a localized one like this captures how the celebrations actually unfold on the ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How many gazetted holidays are there in Jharkhand in October 2026? October 2026 has three gazetted holidays: Gandhi Jayanti (2 October), Maha Ashtami (19 October), and Maha Navami/Vijaya Dashami (20 October).
Q2. When does Navratri begin and end in October 2026? Shardiya Navratri begins on 11 October 2026 with Mahalaya Amavasya and concludes with Vijaya Dashami on 20 October 2026.
Q3. Is Sardar Patel Jayanti a gazetted holiday in Jharkhand? Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti (31 October 2026) is observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) with programs and pledge ceremonies, though it isn’t universally listed as a gazetted holiday in every state.
Q4. How many bank holidays are there in October 2026? Apart from Sundays, banks remain closed on the 2nd Saturday (10 October), the 4th Saturday (24 October), and gazetted holidays including Gandhi Jayanti, Maha Ashtami, and Vijaya Dashami.
Q5. Do Karwa Chauth and Sankashti Chaturthi fall on the same day in 2026? Yes, both observances coincide on 29 October 2026, making it a day of dual religious significance for many households.
Q6. What is the significance of Mahalaya Amavasya? Mahalaya Amavasya marks the end of Pitru Paksha and the ceremonial beginning of Shardiya Navratri, symbolizing the transition from honoring ancestors to welcoming Goddess Durga.