People in Punjab will observe a public holiday on Friday, September 4, 2026, on the occasion of Janam Ashtami, according to the Punjab Government’s official holiday calendar for 2026.
The holiday has been included in the list issued by the Department of Personnel, Government of Punjab, which notified the holidays to be observed in public offices under the state government during 2026. The notification, dated November 26, 2025, lists Janam Ashtami on September 4, a Friday.
September 4 has been designated as a holiday on account of Janam Ashtami, also known as Krishna Janmashtami and the festival marks the birth of Lord Krishna and is observed with religious ceremonies, prayers and devotional programmes.
In Punjab, the state government’s 2026 holiday schedule specifically includes Janam Ashtami on September 4 among its public holidays.
Yes, the Punjab Government notification states that the listed holidays will be observed as public holidays in public offices under the Punjab Government and this means such government offices will remain closed on Friday, September 4, however, the holiday notification should not be interpreted as an automatic closure of every school, private office or other institution across Punjab.
Individual institutions may follow their own holiday calendars and schedules.
For people who have Saturday and Sunday as their regular weekly holidays, the Friday holiday can result in a three-day break from September 4 to September 6.
The Punjab Government’s holiday schedule separately lists all Saturdays and Sundays as holidays for public offices, therefore, while many government employees may get a three-day weekend, the arrangement may vary for people working in institutions or organisations that follow different weekly schedules, so, the reason for the September 4 holiday in Punjab is straightforward: Janam Ashtami has been notified as a public holiday by the Punjab Government for 2026.
