Government & Bank Holidays in Ladakh in 2024

Also known as the ‘Land of High Passes,’ Ladakh is the northernmost place in India. It is now a Union Territory, once a part of Jammu and Kashmir. Ladakh is surrounded by the beautiful Himalayas, the Ladakh range, and the Karakoram on three sides. Mountaineers will get lost in the mesmerising beauty of the rugged terrains.

Go through the following sections to learn about the government and bank holidays, along with the famous destinations of Ladakh.

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List of Government Holidays
List of Bank Holidays
Important Dates and Festivals
Frequently Asked Questions

List of Government Holidays in Ladakh in 2024

Maintaining a balance between work and personal life is vital for a sane mind and body. Hence, knowing about the government holidays list is helpful for the people in Ladakh when planning their holidays.

Run your eyes through the table below and start planning your holidays:

Date	Day	Holiday
13-Jan	Saturday	Lohri
26-Jan	Friday	Republic Day
7-Feb	Wednesday	Mela Dosmochey - Leh District & Sanskar Sub Div
8-Mar	Friday	Mahashivratri
21-Mar	Thursday	Nauroz
25-Mar	Monday	Holi
29-Mar	Friday	Good Friday
9-Apr	Tuesday	1st Navratra
11-Apr	Thursday	Eid ul-Fitr
14-Apr	Sunday	Birthday of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar
17-Apr	Wednesday	Ram Navami
23-May	Thursday	Buddha Purnima
17-Jun	Monday	Eid al-Adha / Hemis Tsechu - Leh District
25-Jun	Tuesday	Eid-E-Ghadeer - Kargil District
17-Jul	Wednesday	Ashoora
15-Aug	Thursday	Independence Day
19-Aug	Monday	Raksha Bandhan
26-Aug	Monday	Chelum (Youm-e-Arbaeen) Kargil District
16-Sep	Monday	Eid-e-Milad
2-Oct	Wednesday	Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday
11-Oct	Friday	Mahanavami
12-Oct	Saturday	Dussehra
31-Oct	Thursday	Diwali
15-Nov	Friday	Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Birthday
25-Dec	Wednesday	Christmas Day
31-Dec	Tuesday	Losar

List of Bank Holidays in Ladakh in 2024

Keeping track of the bank holidays list helps the people to plan their work related to the bank. It will help them avoid the holidays and make certain essential transactions, which will minimise delays.

Follow the table to learn about the bank holidays in Ladakh:

Date	Day	Holiday
1-Jan	Monday	New Year's Day
13-Jan	Saturday	Second Saturday
26-Jan	Friday	Republic Day
27-Jan	Saturday	Fourth Saturday
10-Feb	Saturday	Second Saturday
24-Feb	Saturday	Fourth Saturday
8-Mar	Friday	Maha Shivratri/ Shivaratri
23-Mar	Saturday	Bhagat Singh Martyrdom Day
25-Mar	Monday	Holi festival
29-Mar	Friday	Good Friday
10-Apr	Wednesday	Eid ul-Fitr
13-Apr	Saturday	Second Saturday
14-Apr	Sunday	Dr Ambedkar Jayanti
17-Apr	Wednesday	Ram Navami
27-Apr	Saturday	Fourth Saturday
1-May	Wednesday	May Day
11-May	Saturday	Second Saturday
25-May	Saturday	Fourth Saturday
8-Jun	Saturday	Second Saturday
16-Jun	Sunday	Eid al-Adha
22-Jun	Saturday	Second Saturday
13-Jul	Saturday	Second Saturday
17-Jul	Wednesday	Muharram
27-Jul	Saturday	Fourth Saturday
10-Aug	Saturday	Second Saturday
15-Aug	Thursday	Independence Day
15-Aug	Thursday	Parsi New Year
24-Aug	Saturday	Fourth Saturday
26-Aug	Monday	Krishna Janmashtami
7-Sep	Saturday	Vinayaka Chaturthi
14-Sep	Saturday	Second Saturday
16-Sep	Monday	Eid e Milad
28-Sep	Saturday	Fourth Saturday
2-Oct	Wednesday	Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday
10-Oct	Thursday	Maha Saptami
12-Oct	Saturday	Second Saturday
26-Oct	Saturday	Fourth Saturday
9-Nov	Saturday	Second Saturday
23-Nov	Saturday	Fourth Saturday
25-Dec	Wednesday	Christmas Day

*Please note that the date and day may vary.

List of Important Dates and Festivals in Ladakh in 2024

When we hear Ladakh, it brings us pictures of beautiful monasteries, crystal clear lakes, sky-touching mountains, and rich culture. The majority of Ladakh’s culture is influenced by the Buddhists living there, and the festivals reflect their traditions and beliefs.

The section below lists the holidays specific to Ladakh:

Lohri (13th January 2024): Lohri is the harvest festival where people gather around a bonfire and dance in joy to welcome the newly harvested crops. It also marks the beginning of a new year.
Mela Dosmochey (7th February 2024): Mela Dosmochey is a culturally rich festival celebrated in Ladakh to drive away evil. It was initiated by the rulers of Ladakh and included mask dances and religious symbols.
Mahashivratri (8th March 2024): Mahashivratri is the auspicious day when Lord Shiva entered into marriage with Goddess Parvati. Women generally fast and pour water over shiva linga to break their fasts at the end of the day.
Nauroz (21st March 2024): Nauroz, popularly known as the polo festival of Ladakh, marks the spring Equinox, on which the day and night are equal in length. This day also marks the beginning of spring.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Birthday (14th April 2024): Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was known to be the first person to fight for the rights of the backward castes. This day is also known as Bhim Jayanti.
Ram Navami (17th April 2024): Ram Navami is celebrated as Lord Rama's birth anniversary on the 9th day of shukla paksha. Offerings made in temples and taking out processions are common rituals.
Buddha Purnima (23rd May 2024): Buddha Purnima marks Gautam Buddha's birth anniversary, also known as the day of his enlightenment. It is the most important day for Buddhists worldwide.
Hemis Tsechu (17th June 2024): Hemis Tsechu is a Tibetan festival celebrated in the courtyard of Hemis monastery to mark the Guru Padmasambhava’s birth anniversary. The most unique feature of this festival is the masked dance by Lamas.
Eid-E-Ghadeer (25th June 2024): This is a joyous day for Shia Muslims and is celebrated on the 18th day of the last month of the lunar calendar. On this day, Prophet Muhammad is known to have announced his successor.
Ashoora (17th July 2024): The Shi'i world is known to commemorate Husayn’s martyrdom. On that day, the preachers recount the history of the battle along with the life of Husayn.
Chelum/Youm-e-Arbaeen (26th August 2024): This festival, mainly celebrated in the Kargil District, commemorates Prophet Mohammad’s grandson, Hazrat Imam.
Mahanavami and Dussehra (11th and 12th October 2024): These are the last two days of Maa Durga's nine-day puja. Maa Durga’s idol is thrown into the holy waters on the last day.
Diwali (31st October 2024): Diwali is the brightest festival of the year and is known as the ‘festival of lights.’ This day is known for Lord Rama's return to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana.
Guru Nanak Dev's Birthday (15th November 2024): Guru Nanak Dev Ji's birthday is celebrated on the full moon day of the Bengali lunar month, Kartik, as per the Sikh literature.
Losar (31st December 2024): Losar is one of the most important festivities for the Tibetans. According to the Tibetan calendar, it marks the beginning of a new year. Prayers and various traditional ceremonies are enthusiastically offered.

This article will hopefully help you plan your itinerary whenever you want to go on a Ladakh trip. The list of government holidays will also help you plan important meetings and appointments, eventually minimizing the chances of getting cancelled.

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FAQs about Government and Bank Holidays in Ladakh

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Which Saturdays do banks in Ladakh close?

Banks in Ladakh remain closed on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays.

Can private companies stay open on government holidays in Ladakh?

Yes, private companies can stay open on government holidays. But they must close on national holidays like 26th January, 15th August, and 2nd October, according to the law.

Are bank holidays the same as government holidays in Ladakh?

Not entirely. While many bank holidays coincide with government holidays, banks also observe specific holidays declared by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), such as the annual closing of bank accounts on April 1.

Do holidays in Ladakh vary by district?

Ladakh, comprising Leh and Kargil districts, may have some district-specific holidays based on local festivals and events. It's advisable to check with local authorities for district-specific holidays.