Public holidays in India

India, being a culturally diverse and fervent society, celebrates various holidays and festivals. There are three national holidays in India: Independence Day on 15 August, Mahatma Gandhi's birthday on 2 October, and Republic Day on 26 January. States and regions have local festivals depending on prevalent religious and linguistic demographics. Popular religious festivals include the Sikh festivals like Guru Nanak Jayanti, Hindu festivals of Makar Sankranti, Maha Shivaratri, Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi, Holi, Dussehra, Islamic festivals of Eid ul-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Mawlid an-Nabi and Christian festivals of Christmas and days of observances such as Good Friday are observed throughout the country.