As the month of April begins, residents of Punjab are looking at a series of public holidays that will see schools, colleges, and government offices remaining closed. These holidays, ranging from religious festivals to birth anniversaries of prominent figures, are set to provide several long weekends for students and employees across the state.Major Gazetted Holidays in April 2026The Punjab Government has notified several key dates as public holidays for this month. High on the list is Vaisakhi, the harvest festival which holds immense cultural and religious significance in Punjab. Additionally, the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Mahavir Jayanti are observed as gazetted holidays, ensuring a complete shutdown of educational institutions and government departments on these specific dates.Long Weekends and School ClosuresWith some of these holidays falling on Fridays or Mondays, many families are planning short trips or religious visits. Schools and colleges, in particular, will see a string of closures. Parents are advised to check with individual school managements, as some private institutions may also declare additional preparatory leaves or local holidays in conjunction with the state-mandated ones.Impact on Government Services and BankingWhile emergency services and hospitals will remain operational, routine administrative work in Tehsils and Municipal offices will be suspended on these gazetted holidays. Banking services will also be affected; while online transactions and ATMs will function normally, physical branches will remain closed as per the Negotiable Instruments Act. Customers are encouraged to complete any urgent bank-related tasks well in advance.Vaisakhi and Cultural CelebrationsVaisakhi, falling in mid-April, remains the highlight of the month’s calendar. Beyond being a public holiday, it marks the beginning of the Khalsa Panth and the solar New Year. Major celebrations are expected at the Golden Temple in Amritsar and Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, attracting thousands of devotees and impacting local traffic and public transport schedules.
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