India is a land of diverse cultures, beliefs, and religions. People in India celebrate a lot of festivals and occasions for which people get government holidays so that they can spend a good time with their family and create happy memories together.
Due to the diversity in culture and beliefs, many occasions are celebrated only in certain states and not in the entire country.
So the holiday is also only for the people of those states as for others there is no significance of those holidays.
Which are the holidays in July that will be enjoyed by the people of India?
Government Holidays In July 2022
1. Ratha Yatra (1st July)
Celebrated every year in the month of June or July, the rath yatra is also known as the Chariot festival. It is celebrated in the state of Orissa but is famous worldwide and so many foreigners visit India during this time to attend this festival.
It is believed that Lord Krishna or Lord Jagannath desires to visit his birthplace, Mathura and so to fulfill his desire every year, this festival is celebrated.
On this day, idols of Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath, and Subhadra are carried on chariots having 16, 18, and 14 wheels respectively.
2. Guru Hargobind Ji’s Birthday (5th July)
Guru Hargobind Ji was the sixth guru of the ten gurus. Every year on the 21st day of Harh which is the fourth month of the Nanakshahi calendar,
A regional holiday in the state of Jammu and Kashmir is observed to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Hargobind.
This day is celebrated by Sikhs with a lot of enthusiasm and zeal and the celebrations start very early in the morning. The Sikhs visit gurudwaras on this day to attend Shabadh Kirtan and eat Langer.
At night, recitation of rehas takes place followed by the kirtan till the end of the night.
3. MHIP day (6th July)
MHIP is the acronym for Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl and MHIP day is celebrated every year on the 6th July across the state of Mizoram to celebrate the birth of the founder of the state’s largest women's organisation,
Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl. The name of the organization means binding women together.
Not only the largest NGO in the state but it is the only NGO that has only women volunteers from different walks of life who work together towards the upliftment and welfare of the women.
4. Bakrid/ Eid al Adha (10th – 11th July)
According to Islamic Lunar Calendar Eid-Al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah. It is celebrated worldwide with different names like Bakr- Eid, Idul- Azha, Kurbanir Id, and Id ul Baqarah.
On this day, the male goat is sacrificed and divided into 3 parts out of which 1 part is to be distributed among the poor. The remaining share is then divided among friends and family.
5. Martyrs’ Day (13th July)
Martyrs’ day is celebrated every year on 13th July to pay a tribute to the martyrs’ that were killed in Jammu and Kashmir on 13th July 1931.
On this day in 1931, 22 Kashmiri were killed by the Dogra State forces under the command of Maharaja Hari Singh.
6. U Tirot sing day (17th July)
This day is celebrated to honor the freedom fighter, Tirot Sing from Meghalaya, and the holiday is observed to remember his contribution to the fight against the British.
On 17th July 1835, Tirot Sing died in jail in Dhaka after fighting against the British for four years and being captured by them.
7. Bonalu (24th July)
Bonalu is an annual festival of Telangana which is celebrated majorly in the cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. During this festival, the goddess Mahakali who is considered the goddess of death and time is worshipped.
In an earthen or the brass pot, rice is prepared using milk and jaggery and later women offer these pots with bangles and sarees to the Goddess.
8. Haryali Teej (31st July)
Haryali Teej is a festival that is celebrated mainly in north Indian states like Haryana, Rajasthan, UP, Punjab, etc. A special pooja is performed on this day and women generally wear green clothes.
For newly married women, it is an important festival where women visit their houses and are given a lot of presents including clothes, jewellery, and sweets.
9. Shaheed Udham Singh’s Martyrdom Day (31st July)
The holiday is observed on this day every year to pay a tribute and celebrate the death anniversary of Shaheed Udham Singh.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I take the public holiday of one state in another state?
No, the public holiday of one state cannot be taken in another state as the holidays are region-specific and are based on the culture and beliefs of the majority of the people residing in that particular state.
2. Are public holidays mandatory in India?
There are 14 mandatory holidays in India which include national holidays like Independence Day, Republic Day, and Gandhi Jayanti,
Along with which holidays on major festivals which are celebrated all over India, like Diwali, Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Zuha, Good Friday, Mahavir Jayanti, etc. are observed.
3. How many public holidays should a company give in India?
Though there are 14 mandatory public holidays in India, it might differ from state to state as there are many festivals and occasions that are region-specific and so the number of public holidays that a company should give in India tends to differ in each state.