December closes out the year on a quieter, more reflective note in Jharkhand, blending Panchang-based observances like Gita Jayanti with the widespread joy of Christmas and the anticipation of New Year’s Eve. If you’re searching for the Jharkhand Calendar 2026 December, this guide gives you the complete day-by-day breakdown of festivals, the gazetted holiday, and bank holidays, along with a free downloadable PDF for offline reference.
Whether you’re a government employee tracking the year’s final gazetted holiday, a student planning around the winter break, a bank customer managing year-end transactions, or someone who follows the Panchang for fasting and puja days, this article has it all organized in one place.
Jharkhand Calendar 2026 December – Full Festival & Holiday List
Here’s the complete day-wise list of festivals and holidays for December 2026 in Jharkhand:
| Date | Day | Festival / Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04 December | Friday | Utpanna Ekadashi | Religious / Panchang |
| 05 December | Saturday | Pradosh Vrat (Krishna) | Religious / Panchang |
| 07 December | Monday | Masik Shivaratri | Religious / Panchang |
| 09 December | Wednesday | Margashirsha Amavasya | Religious / Panchang |
| 12 December | Saturday | 2nd Saturday | Bank Holiday |
| 16 December | Wednesday | Dhanu Sankranti | Religious / Panchang |
| 20 December | Sunday | Mokshada Ekadashi / Gita Jayanti | Religious / Panchang |
| 21 December | Monday | Pradosh Vrat (Shukla) | Religious / Panchang |
| 24 December | Thursday | Margashirsha Purnima / Dattatreya Jayanti | Religious Observance |
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Day | Gazetted Holiday |
| 26 December | Saturday | 4th Saturday | Bank Holiday |
| 27 December | Sunday | Sankashti Chaturthi | Religious / Panchang |
| 31 December | Thursday | New Year’s Eve | 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 December PDF
For offline access, you can download the complete Jharkhand Calendar for December 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 December 2026 Festivals and Holidays in Jharkhand
Utpanna Ekadashi – 4 December (Friday)
The month opens with Utpanna Ekadashi, observed in the Krishna Paksha of the Margashirsha month. This Ekadashi is associated with the origin story of the Ekadashi Devi herself, and devotees observe a fast believing it grants freedom from sins and lays the spiritual groundwork for the Ekadashi vratas that follow through the year.
Pradosh Vrat (Krishna) – 5 December (Saturday)
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 the removal of obstacles.
Masik Shivaratri – 7 December (Monday)
Masik Shivaratri is the monthly observance dedicated to Lord Shiva, occurring on the Chaturdashi of the Krishna Paksha each month. Devotees visit Shiva temples, offer water and bel patra, and often stay awake through the night in prayer.
Margashirsha Amavasya – 9 December (Wednesday)
This no-moon day falls within the Margashirsha month, considered by many traditions to be a particularly sacred month in itself. Families use this Amavasya for ancestral worship, fasting, and charitable acts, continuing a rhythm that runs throughout the Hindu calendar year.
Dhanu Sankranti – 16 December (Wednesday)
Dhanu Sankranti marks the sun’s transition into the Sagittarius zodiac sign as per the solar calendar. It also traditionally marks the beginning of the Kharmas period, during which many families pause major ceremonies like weddings until the sun moves into the next sign, similar in spirit to the Chaturmas period observed earlier in the year.
Mokshada Ekadashi / Gita Jayanti – 20 December (Sunday)
This date holds deep spiritual significance as it marks Gita Jayanti, commemorating the day Lord Krishna is believed to have recited the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Falling on the same day as Mokshada Ekadashi, the occasion draws devotees to recite verses from the Gita, attend discourses, and reflect on its teachings regarding duty, purpose, and devotion. “Mokshada” itself means “one who grants liberation,” making this a particularly meaningful day for spiritual reflection as the calendar year draws to a close.
Pradosh Vrat (Shukla) – 21 December (Monday)
The second Pradosh Vrat of the month falls on this date, with devotees continuing the tradition of fasting and prayer dedicated to Lord Shiva for wellbeing and the removal of obstacles.
Margashirsha Purnima / Dattatreya Jayanti – 24 December (Thursday)
This full moon day marks the end of the Margashirsha month and is celebrated as Dattatreya Jayanti, honoring Lord Dattatreya, considered a combined incarnation of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Devotees observe fasting and visit Dattatreya temples, seeking blessings for wisdom and spiritual growth.
Christmas Day – 25 December (Friday)
Christmas is celebrated with heartfelt devotion across Jharkhand, home to a significant Christian community, particularly among tribal groups in districts with a long-standing missionary and educational presence. Churches hold midnight mass on Christmas Eve and special services on the day itself, followed by family gatherings, festive meals, and the exchange of gifts. Towns and cities across the state see homes and churches decorated with lights and nativity scenes. As a gazetted holiday, offices, schools, and most businesses remain closed, allowing the whole state to share in the celebration.
Sankashti Chaturthi – 27 December (Sunday)
The regular monthly observance dedicated to Lord Ganesha falls here, with devotees fasting through the day and breaking their fast after sighting the moon in the evening — one of the final such observances of the calendar year.
New Year’s Eve – 31 December (Thursday)
The year closes with New Year’s Eve, celebrated across Jharkhand with family gatherings, festive dinners, and countdown celebrations welcoming 2027. While not a formal holiday, many workplaces and institutions see early closures or a more relaxed atmosphere as the year winds down.
Bank Holidays in December 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 December 2026, this translates to:
- All Sundays – 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th December
- 12 December (Saturday) – 2nd Saturday Bank Holiday
- 26 December (Saturday) – 4th Saturday Bank Holiday
Banks will also remain closed on Christmas Day (25 December), the month’s sole gazetted holiday. Since 25 December falls on a Friday and is followed by the 4th Saturday bank holiday on 26 December, this effectively creates a short extended break for many, right before the year-end.
How to Use This Calendar Effectively
- Government employees should note that Christmas Day is the only gazetted holiday this month, making December comparatively light on official closures.
- Bank customers should plan around the standard Sunday and Saturday closures, plus the Christmas break at the end of the month.
- Families planning weddings should keep Dhanu Sankranti (16 December) in mind, as it marks the start of the Kharmas period, during which such ceremonies are traditionally paused until mid-January.
- Anyone interested in the Bhagavad Gita’s teachings can mark Gita Jayanti (20 December) as an occasion for reading or attending discourses on the text.
- Devotees following the Panchang close out the year with a steady set of observances — two Ekadashis, two Pradosh Vrats, Masik Shivaratri, Amavasya, Purnima, and Sankashti Chaturthi all falling within December.
Christmas in Jharkhand: A Celebration Rooted in the State’s Diversity
Christmas in Jharkhand is worth understanding in its own right, beyond just being a national holiday. The state’s Christian population, shaped significantly by mission schools and institutions established over more than a century, has woven the festival into the broader cultural fabric alongside Sarhul, Karma Puja, and Sohrai. In many districts, Christmas carols, church gatherings, and community feasts sit comfortably alongside the state’s tribal and Hindu traditions, reflecting the same spirit of coexistence that defines Jharkhand’s calendar across the entire year — from Birsa Munda Jayanti in November to Milad-un-Nabi in August and Guru Nanak Jayanti before it.
Jharkhand Calendar vs National Calendar – What’s Different?
Christmas is, of course, celebrated nationwide, but the specific character of its celebration in Jharkhand — shaped by the state’s tribal Christian communities and long missionary history — gives it a texture that a generic calendar won’t capture. Similarly, dates like Dhanu Sankranti and the start of Kharmas are often overlooked entirely on broad national calendars, despite shaping wedding planning for millions of families during this period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How many gazetted holidays are there in Jharkhand in December 2026? December 2026 has one gazetted holiday: Christmas Day, observed on 25 December.
Q2. What is Gita Jayanti, and when does it fall in 2026? Gita Jayanti, observed on 20 December 2026, commemorates the day Lord Krishna is believed to have recited the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna. It coincides with Mokshada Ekadashi this year.
Q3. What is Kharmas, and how does it affect December 2026? Kharmas begins with Dhanu Sankranti (16 December 2026) and is a period during which many families traditionally avoid scheduling weddings and other major ceremonies until the sun moves into the next zodiac sign in mid-January.
Q4. How many bank holidays are there in December 2026? Apart from Sundays, banks remain closed on the 2nd Saturday (12 December), the 4th Saturday (26 December), and Christmas Day (25 December).
Q5. Is New Year’s Eve a public holiday in Jharkhand? No, 31 December is not a formal gazetted or executive holiday, though many workplaces observe a relaxed schedule as the year comes to a close.
Q6. Why is Christmas particularly significant in Jharkhand compared to some other states? Jharkhand has a notable Christian population, including many from tribal communities, shaped by a long history of mission schools and institutions in the region, making Christmas a widely and warmly celebrated festival across the state.