India (Jammu & Kashmir) : public and bank holidays, closure of banks, stock exchanges, school vacations

School holidays : Summer zone schools

Banks only :

Banks only : Annual Closing of the Royal Bank of India (RBI)

Sikhism : Also Saccha Badshah (ਸੱਚਾ ਪਾਦਸ਼ਾਹ True King) (19 June 1595–2 March 1644) was the sixth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and became Guru on 25 May 1606 following in the footsteps of his father Guru Arjan Dev. From the very beginning he was the deadly enemy of Mughals. (Wikipedia)

School holidays : Winter zone schools

Muslim, Sufi : The second main celebration of Islam. It celebrates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. Muslims make their annual pilgrimage, or the Hajj , to Makkah (Mecca) in Saudi Arabia.

Secular holiday : To mark a 1931 protest against the rule of Maharaja Hari Singh.

Culture : To mark a 1931 protest against the rule of Maharaja Hari Singh in the then princely state. On that day, 22 Kashmiri men and women were shot dead as they gathered outside the Srinagar central jail to protest against the arrest and subsequent trial of Abdul Qadeer Gazi, who was seen as a crusader against Singh’s Dogra regime.

School holidays :

Muslim, Sufi :

Secular holiday : Commemorates the day in 1947 when India achieved freedom from British rule

Hinduism : Hindu celebration of the birthday of Sri Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Krishna. Sweets, fruits and milk products are available in abundance. Sri or Shree: A prefix denoting auspiciousness

Secular holiday : He is the man who played a significant role in achiveing independence for India from the British Empire with his simplicity and strong will power. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, also known as 'Bapu' or 'Father of the nation', was born on the 2nd of October in 1869, in Porbunder, Gujarat. He studied law in U.K and practiced law in South Africa. But he left his profession and returned to India to join the Indian freedom struggle. Gandhiji was a preacher of truth and 'Ahimsa'(non-violence). He started the 'Satyagraha' movement for the Indian freedom struggle. He believed in living a simple life and in 'Swadeshi'. He proved to the world that freedom can be achieved through the path of non-violence. Gandhiji is a symbol of peace and truth. www.indiaa2z.com

Hinduism : The victory of Durga on evil forces, the destruction of Vasanas (subjectivity, selfishness, desires...) and the achievement of the deepest Self. Dominance of Saraswati (pure science) over Lakshmi (applied science)

Muslim, Sufi :

Muslim, Sufi :

Culture : The day that the Azad Jammu and Kashmir government was created in 1947.

Hinduism :

Banks only :

Secular holiday : Commemorates the day when Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession October 26th 1947. With this treaty, Jammu and Kashmir joined the Dominion of India.

Sikhism : Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539) Founder of the religion of Sikhism and the first of ten Sikh Gurus. Sikhs believe that all subsequent Gurus possessed Guru Nanak’s divinity and religious authority Wikipedia

Secular holiday : Urs Shah Asrar-ud-Din Sahib in Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban

Zoroastrian : the Lion of Kashmir (December 5, 1905, Soura, Kashmir – September 8, 1982, Srinagar), was the leader of the National Conference, Kashmir's largest political party, and one of the most important political figures in the modern history of Jammu and Kashmir. (Wikipedia)

Catholic or protestant : Since pre-historic times in Europe, festivities (bonfires, offrerings) were marking the beginning of longer hours of daylight with fires and ritual. The Roman festival of Saturnalia lasted several days in December (gambling and offerings). Germanic tribes also celebrated mid-winter (drinking and rituals). The Bulgarian (with Koleduvane) and the Polish (with Gwiazdka) perpetuate this tradition. Jesus of Nazareth was probably born in springtime (Reformists favour autumn). But in the 4th century, December 25th was chosen for the celebration of his birth by Pope Julius I (Bishop Liberus is also mentioned in 354 A.D.). Thus, a Christian element was introduced in the long-established mid-winter festivals. Before 1582, the Papal States and other Italian city states celebrated New Year’s Day on Christmas Day.

School holidays : in Kashmir colleges only

School holidays : in Jammu only