Its October already and as Karwa Chauth approaches on 10th October 2025 many citizens especially women in Punjab are wondering whether the festival is recognized as a public holiday. Official records from the Punjab government confirm that Karwa Chauth is not a declared public holiday in the state.
However, Karwa Chauth on October 10 is a reserved holiday in Punjab. According to the government order, the said leave will not be gazetted but will be reserved. That is, government offices, schools and colleges will remain open on this day as usual. However, employees will be able to avail this reserve leave where required or permitted by the management.
While widely celebrated by married women across several religions, who fast and pray for the long life of their husbands, Karwa Chauth remains an optional observance. It has not been listed among Punjab’s gazetted holidays. Government offices, schools, and courts will remain operational on this day.
Earlier this year, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, demanding celebration of Karwa Chauth to be made mandatory for all women. The court dismissed the plea calling it outside the judiciary's domain. The petitioner was fined ₹1,000 for wasting the court’s time.
The Supreme Court also upheld this decision emphasizing that religious observance cannot be enforced by law and is subject to personal choice.
While Punjab does not offer any special leave for Karwa Chauth, states like Uttarakhand have declared a public holiday for female government employees on this day. However, such provisions are made at the discretion of individual state governments and do not apply across the board.
Karwa Chauth holds immense cultural and emotional significance in North India, including Punjab. However, this does not bring it into official government recognition.
