Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has declared a three-day holiday on the occasion of Holi from March 2 to 4 for all state government employees.
As per the order issued, salaries of all state government employees will also be released before Holi, as HT had previously reported.
Following this announcement, all government offices across the state will function normally on February 28, which falls on Saturday.
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Outsourced and contracted staff included
The directive covers not only regular government employees, but also external employees, contract employees and sanitation workers. The Prime Minister stressed that the wages of each category of workers must be released before the festival to prevent financial hardship during the celebrations.
The 2026 holiday calendar includes Holika Dahan on March 2 and Holi on March 4, officials said. The information was shared by Principal Secretary (General Administration) SVS Ranga Rao, citing the government order dated November 17, 2025.
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In addition, the state government has declared 3 March as a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, due to the festival of Holi.
The Prime Minister issued the instructions on Friday, soon after his return to Lucknow from his visit to Singapore and Japan. He said that the tour will open new horizons for industrial growth in Uttar Pradesh.
He explained that payments must be processed without delay. He warned that any negligence in implementing orders would require strict measures to be taken.
During his four-day visit to Singapore and Japan, the state government signed worth of memorandums of understanding $1.5 million and received investment proposals exceeding $2.5 million crores.
The Prime Minister attended more than 60 meetings and events during the tour. Investment roadshows were held in Singapore, Tokyo and Yamanashi to promote Uttar Pradesh as a business destination.
