Chandigarh: The Punjab Government today released a list of 35 holidays for 2017. The holidays enumerated in the schedule shall be observed as Public Holidays in the public offices under the Punjab Government during the calendar year-2017.
Disclosing this an Official Spokesperson of the Punjab Government said that Public Offices will be remain closed for Parkash Gurpurab of Guru Gobind Singh Ji (January 5), January 26 Day, Basant Panchmi and Birth anniversary of Baba Ram Singh Ji (1 February), Parkash of Bhagat Ravidas Ji (10 February), Maha Shivaratri festival (24 February), Holi (13 March), Martyrdom Day of Bhagat Singh (March 23), Ram Navami festival (4 April), Mahavir Jayanti (9 April), Vaisakhi (13 April), Good Friday ( 14 April), Birthday of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar ( 14 April), Parshuram Jayanti( 28 April ), May Day ( 1 May ), Shaheedi Gurpurab of Guru Arjun Dev Ji ( 29 May ), Parkash Dihara of Bhagat Kabir Ji ( 9 June ) , Idu’l Fitr ( 26 June ) , Myrtyrdom Day of Udham Singh ( 31 July ), 15 August Day, Janamashtami (15 August), Parkash Dihara Guru Granth Sahib Ji (22 August), Birthday of Baba Sri Chand (30 August ), Id-ul Zuha (Bakrid) (2 September ), Agarsain Jayanti ( 21 September) , Birthday of Bhagat Singh ( 28 September), Dussehra (30 September) , Birthday of Mohan Das Gandhi ( 2 October ), Birthday of Valmiki ( 5 October), Parkash Gurpurab of Guru Ram Dass Ji ( 7 October), Diwali ( 19 October), Vishwakarma Day ( 20 October), Parkash Gurpurab of Guru Nanak Ji ( 4 November ), Martyrdom Day Kartar Singh Srabha ( 16 November ), Shaheedi Gurpurab of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji (23 November ) and Christmas Day ( 25 December).

The Government has also released 18 restricted holidays from which each employee can choose two days to observe as holidays. The restricted holidays are New Year Day (January 1), Lohri (January 13), Nirwan Diwas of Adinath (January 26), International Women Day (March 8), Hola Mohalla ( 13 March), Buddh Purnima ( 10 May), Nirjala Ekadashi ( 5 June), Death Anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (29 June), Birthday of Baba Jiwan Singh ( 5 September), Anant Chaturdashi (15 September ), Muharram ( 1 October), Karva Chauth ( 8 October ), Birthday of Baba Banda Singh Ji Bahadur ( 16 October), Goverdhan Puja (20 October), Birthday of Bhagat Nam Dev Ji (31 October), November 1 Day, Birthday of Prophet Mohammad Sahib ( Milad-un-Nabi or Id-e-Milad) (2 December) and Shaheedi Sabha of Fatehgarh Sahib ( 25, 26 & 27 December).
According to a Punjab government release In addition to the holiday each employee will be permitted to avail any four second half day holidays to join Nagar Kirtan/Sobha Yatra and the concerned controlling authority shall ensure to maintain the record of such holidays, Parkash Gurpurab of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Parkash Gurpurab of Guru Ravi Dass Ji, Maha Shivaratri, Ram Naumi, Mahavir Jayanti, Vaisakhi, Shaheedi Gurpurab of Guru Arjun Dev Ji , Janamashtami, Idu’l Fitr, Birthday of Maharishi Valmiki, Parkash Gurpurab of Guru Nanak Ji, Shaheedi Gurpurab of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji and Christmas Day . The rules applicable in the restricted holidays will be applicable for these half day holidays. The Festival of Raksha Bandhan falls on 7th August, 2017 Punjab Government offices will be opened at 11:00 AM on Raksha Bandhan.