April Month

April 2026 Holiday List

• 1 Apr (Wed): Utkal Divas (Odisha Day) – Major Odisha State Holiday commemorating the formation of the state in 1936.

• 3 Apr (Fri): Good Friday – Gazetted Holiday across India.

• 5 Apr (Sun): Easter Sunday – Observed by the Christian community.

• 13 Apr (Mon): Baisakhi – Harvest festival (primarily North India).

• 14 Apr (Tue): Maha Vishuba Sankranti / Pana Sankranti – Odia New Year. A massive day in Odisha where Pana (a traditional drink) is distributed and the new Odia almanac (Panji) begins.

• 14 Apr (Tue): Ambedkar Jayanti – National holiday honoring Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

• 14 Apr (Tue): Vishu / Mesha Sankranti – New Year celebrations in Kerala and other parts of India.

• 15 Apr (Wed): Bohag Bihu / Himachal Day – Assamese New Year and Himachal Pradesh statehood day.

• 30 Apr (Thu): Akshaya Tritiya – Highly auspicious day in Odisha; marks the commencement of chariot construction (Ratha Anukula) for the Puri Rath Yatra and the start of the Chandan Yatra.

Highlights for Odisha

• Utkal Divas (April 1): Expect grand celebrations, cultural programs, and decorations across Bhubaneswar and Cuttack to celebrate Odia identity.

• Pana Sankranti (April 14): Look for the Basundhara Theki (a small pot with a hole) hung over Tulsi plants in Odia households. This is also a peak time for Danda Nata performances in Southern Odisha.

• Akshaya Tritiya (April 30): This is a critical date for your production house or channel, as it officially starts the countdown to Rath Yatra with the first wood being cut for the chariots in Puri. It’s also a major day for weddings and buying gold.

• Chandan Yatra: Beginning on April 30, this 42-day festival involves the water sports of the deities in the Narendra Tank in Puri.