National
New Year's Day 2027 नव वर्ष दिवस
First Day of the Calendar Year
Friday, 1 January 2027
New Year's Day on 1 January opens the Gregorian calendar year, the civil calendar India uses for offices, banks, schools and government records.
How the date is fixed: Fixed date: 1 January every year, the first day of the Gregorian calendar
Why New Year's Day is celebrated
For most Indians, 1 January is the day the office diary, the school timetable and the bank's financial records turn to a fresh page. The Gregorian calendar runs public life in India, so this date matters for work and paperwork even though it is not linked to any religion.
Many people treat it as a day for new beginnings. They make resolutions about health, savings or study, call relatives and send greetings. It is also a day of family outings, picnics and temple visits.
History and story of New Year's Day
The custom of starting the year in January goes back to ancient Rome. Julius Caesar reformed the Roman calendar in 46 BCE and the new Julian calendar fixed 1 January as the start of the year from 45 BCE. In 1582 Pope Gregory XIII corrected the drift in that calendar, and the Gregorian calendar slowly spread across the world. Britain and its colonies adopted it in 1752, which is how it reached India.
After Independence, India kept the Gregorian calendar for civil use and in 1957 also adopted the Saka calendar as the national calendar. The country still has many traditional new years of its own, such as Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Baisakhi, Vishu and Puthandu, which follow lunar or solar reckoning.
How New Year's Day is celebrated
Celebrations start the night before with countdowns and fireworks. On the day itself, many families visit a temple, gurdwara or church in the morning to begin the year with prayer. Others go on picnics, watch films or meet friends over a meal.
In Uttarakhand, Dehradun residents often spend the day at nearby spots such as Mussoorie, Sahastradhara or Robbers Cave, and hill stations see heavy tourist traffic in the first days of January.
Important days and moments
- Midnight countdown (Night of 31 December)
Crowds gather at homes, clubs and public places to count down the last seconds of the old year and greet the new one with cheers and fireworks. - New Year morning (Thursday, 1 January 2026)
Families visit places of worship, exchange greetings and plan outings. Many people begin resolutions such as morning walks or a new savings plan on this day.
Other names and related festivals
- 1 January
- English New Year
- New Year
New Year's EveFrequently asked questions
When is New Year's Day in 2027?
New Year's Day falls on Friday, 1 January 2027.
Is New Year's Day a bank holiday?
The RBI bank holiday lists for 2027 are not out yet; they usually come out in December or January. Each state follows its own list, so check your state's bank holiday page then.
Is New Year's Day a central government holiday?
New Year's Day is a restricted holiday. Central government employees may take it as one of their two restricted holidays in the year.
What are the other names of New Year's Day?
New Year's Day is also known as 1 January, English New Year, New Year.
Is 1 January a public holiday in India?
It is not a gazetted national holiday. Central government staff can take it as a restricted holiday, and some states declare it a local holiday.
Why does the year start on 1 January?
The Roman calendar reform under Julius Caesar fixed 1 January as the first day of the year. The later Gregorian calendar kept this rule, and India follows that calendar for civil purposes.
Does India have other new year days?
Yes. Regional new years include Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Baisakhi, Vishu, Puthandu, Bohag Bihu and Pohela Boishakh. Most fall in March or April and follow traditional calendars.
Next National festivals (30 days)
No other festival in the next 30 days.
Major National festivals
- 26 JanTue
Republic Day - 15 AugSun
Independence Day - 2 OctSat
Gandhi Jayanti
Upcoming central government holidays
Holidays in your state
Bank, state government and school holidays differ from state to state. Pick your state:
Holidays and festivals calendar: October and November 2026
Central government holidays for all of India and major festivals. For bank, state government and school holidays, open your state: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal.
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Friday, 2 October Gandhi Jayanti Gandhi Jayanti on 2 October marks the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India's freedom struggle and the voice of truth and non-violence. |
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Sunday, 11 October Sharad Navratri Sharad Navratri is the nine night autumn festival of the Goddess Durga, beginning with Ghatasthapana and leading up to Dussehra, with fasting, prayer, garba... |
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Saturday, 17 October Durga Puja Durga Puja celebrates Goddess Durga's victory over the demon Mahishasura with grand pandals, dhak drums, prayers and feasts, especially in West Bengal and ea... |
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Tuesday, 20 October Dussehra Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, celebrates the victory of good over evil, recalling Lord Rama's defeat of Ravana and Goddess Durga's triumph over Mahishasura. |
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Sunday, 8 November Diwali Diwali, the festival of lights, celebrates the victory of light over darkness with Lakshmi Puja, rows of diyas, sweets and family gatherings on the new moon... |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
Sunday, 15 November Chhath Puja Chhath Puja is a four day festival of Bihar and eastern India in which devotees fast and offer arghya to the setting and rising Sun while standing in water. |
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Tuesday, 24 November Guru Nanak Jayanti Guru Nanak Jayanti, or Prakash Purab, celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, with prayers, nagar kirtans, langar and lit up gurdw... |
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Public holiday Major festival Today
- Sat, 17 Oct
Durga Puja - Tue, 20 Oct
Dussehra - Sun, 8 Nov
Diwali - Sun, 15 Nov
Chhath Puja - Tue, 24 Nov
Guru Nanak Jayanti