This Bihar Calendar August 2026 guide covers every general holiday, public holiday, and restricted holiday for the month, connects a couple of August’s dates back to festivals earlier in the year, and works out exactly how many non-working days you get depending on whether you’re a bank customer, a government employee, or a student.
Whether you searched for the Bihar Sarkar Calendar August 2026 to plan around Independence Day, you want to know when Chehlum and Eid-e-Milad fall this year, you’re checking if Raksha Bandhan is an actual day off, or you simply need an accurate bank holiday count for the month, this guide has been checked against Bihar’s 2026 state holiday notification, its restricted holiday list, and the standard RBI closure pattern for banks in the state.
Bihar Calendar August 2026 at a Glance
| Date | Day | Occasion | Holiday Type | Who Gets It Off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 4, 2026 | Tuesday | Chehlum | General holiday | Government offices, schools |
| August 8, 2026 | Saturday | Second Saturday | Bank holiday | Bank customers |
| August 15, 2026 | Saturday | Independence Day | Public holiday | Government offices, banks, schools |
| August 22, 2026 | Saturday | Fourth Saturday | Bank holiday | Bank customers |
| August 24, 2026 | Monday | Last Shravan Monday | Restricted (optional) holiday | Only employees who choose it |
| August 26, 2026 | Wednesday | Eid-e-Milad (Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday) | Public holiday | Government offices, banks, schools |
| August 28, 2026 | Friday | Raksha Bandhan | Restricted (optional) holiday | Only employees who choose it |
Five distinct occasions puts August back in territory this calendar hasn’t seen since March, and unlike July’s completely blank list, this month genuinely needs a table to keep track of.
Independence Day’s Saturday Trick — and Its Echo From March
Here’s the detail worth flagging first: August 2026 has five Saturdays (1, 8, 15, 22, 29), and Independence Day lands squarely on the third one — a Saturday that isn’t part of the standard second-and-fourth-Saturday bank holiday pattern. That means Independence Day itself is the reason banks close that day, not an accident of the weekly schedule, exactly the same situation Eid-ul-Fitr created back in March when it fell on that month’s third Saturday. It’s the second time this year a major holiday has landed on a “non-standard” Saturday, and both times it added a genuine extra non-working day rather than overlapping with one that already existed.
There’s a second connection worth pointing out: Chehlum, observed on August 4, 2026, marks the 40th day of mourning following Ashura, and Ashura this year fell on June 26 — so Chehlum’s date isn’t arbitrary, it’s calculated directly from the Muharram date covered in last month’s calendar.
August 2026 Calendar Grid for Bihar
Bihar’s Weather in August 2026
August continues Bihar’s monsoon season, though the rainfall pattern tends to even out compared to July’s peak intensity. Expect regular spells of rain interspersed with humid, overcast stretches rather than continuous heavy downpours, with daytime temperatures generally sitting in the low-to-mid 30s across Patna, Gaya, and the rest of the state. North Bihar’s rivers, which peak in flood risk during July, often remain elevated into August as well, so it’s still worth checking local conditions if you’re travelling through the Kosi or Gandak belt. By Independence Day on the 15th, flag-hoisting ceremonies and school functions typically go ahead outdoors, though a light rain jacket is a reasonable precaution given the season, and the same applies for Raksha Bandhan gatherings toward month-end.
Chehlum 2026 in Bihar — August 4 (Tuesday)
Chehlum, also known as Arba’een, marks the 40th day after Ashura and the end of the formal mourning period observed by Shia Muslims for the martyrdom of Imam Hussain at Karbala. Communities across Bihar mark the day with majlis gatherings, recitations, and processions, echoing the same themes of remembrance covered around Muharram in June. It’s a general holiday on Bihar’s calendar, closing government offices and schools, though — consistent with how general holidays have worked all year — it doesn’t appear on the state’s bank holiday circular, so bank branches are expected to remain open.
Independence Day 2026 in Bihar — August 15 (Saturday)
Independence Day marks the anniversary of India’s independence from British rule in 1947 and is a full public holiday observed identically across every state, Bihar included. Flag-hoisting ceremonies take place at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan and at every district headquarters, block office, and school across the state, along with cultural programmes and parade functions at the local level. As covered above, its position on the third Saturday this year means it functions as a genuine extra closure day for banks, not one that overlaps with an existing Saturday holiday.
Eid-e-Milad 2026 in Bihar — August 26 (Wednesday)
Eid-e-Milad, also called Milad-un-Nabi or Mawlid, commemorates the birth of Prophet Muhammad and is observed on the 12th day of Rabi-ul-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar. Bihar’s official 2026 calendar lists August 26 as the holiday date, closing government offices, banks, and schools, though as with any Islamic observance, the exact day depends on moon sighting, and some Panchang-based or regional calculations place it a day or two earlier — worth a quick check locally if you’re planning specific prayers or processions. Communities across Patna and other cities typically mark the day with Milad gatherings, special prayers, and processions.
Last Shravan Monday 2026 — August 24 (Monday)
This date falls within Shravan, the Hindu lunar month considered especially sacred to Lord Shiva, which in 2026 runs from July 30 to August 28. Mondays throughout Shravan (Shravan Somvar) are traditionally observed with fasting and Shiva worship, and the final Monday of the month — August 24 this year — carries particular significance for devotees completing their month-long observance. It sits on Bihar’s restricted holiday list, meaning it’s available for employees to choose as one of their allotted optional holidays, but it doesn’t close government offices, banks, or schools by default.
Raksha Bandhan 2026 in Bihar — August 28 (Friday)
Raksha Bandhan celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters, with sisters tying a rakhi thread on their brothers’ wrists in exchange for a promise of protection and care. It falls on the full moon day (Purnima) of Shravan, which in 2026 also happens to be the very last day of the Shravan month itself. Like Last Shravan Monday, Raksha Bandhan sits on Bihar’s restricted holiday list rather than the general or public list, so while it’s widely celebrated in homes across the state, it doesn’t automatically close offices, banks, or schools — only employees who specifically apply to use it as one of their optional holidays get the day off.
Bihar’s Holiday Categories, Explained
August is a good month to see all three tiers of Bihar’s calendar working side by side again, much like June was:
| Category | Decided By | Applies To | August 2026 Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| General holidays | Government of Bihar | Government offices and schools | Chehlum (Aug 4) |
| Public / festival holidays | Government of Bihar | Government offices, banks, and schools | Independence Day (Aug 15), Eid-e-Milad (Aug 26) |
| Restricted (optional) holidays | Employee’s own choice | Only employees who select the date | Last Shravan Monday (Aug 24), Raksha Bandhan (Aug 28) |
With two dates in each of the general and public tiers, plus two more on the restricted list, August is the most balanced month of the year so far across all three categories at once.
Bihar Bank Holidays — August 2026
Banks in Bihar follow the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, and the RBI’s standing second-and-fourth-Saturday rule. Here’s the complete picture for August 2026:
| Date | Day | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| August 2, 2026 | Sunday | Weekly holiday |
| August 8, 2026 | Saturday | Second Saturday |
| August 9, 2026 | Sunday | Weekly holiday |
| August 15, 2026 | Saturday | Independence Day |
| August 16, 2026 | Sunday | Weekly holiday |
| August 22, 2026 | Saturday | Fourth Saturday |
| August 23, 2026 | Sunday | Weekly holiday |
| August 26, 2026 | Wednesday | Eid-e-Milad |
| August 30, 2026 | Sunday | Weekly holiday |
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Sundays | 5 |
| Second & fourth Saturdays | 2 |
| Independence Day (falls on the third Saturday) | 1 |
| Eid-e-Milad | 1 |
| Total non-working days for banks | 9 |
Nine non-working days puts August in the same bracket as April and May, well above July’s quiet six but short of March’s high of twelve. Branches stay closed on all nine dates, though ATMs, UPI, and net banking continue running normally; cheque clearing is usually what slows down around a closure.
Bihar School Holidays — August 2026
Bihar’s Education Department calendar marks the following dates for government and government-aided schools, including Sanskrit, Urdu, and Madrasa institutions, in August:
| Date | Day | Occasion |
|---|---|---|
| August 4, 2026 | Tuesday | Chehlum |
| August 15, 2026 | Saturday | Independence Day |
| August 26, 2026 | Wednesday | Eid-e-Milad |
Three fresh dates for students this month, with Raksha Bandhan and Last Shravan Monday not counted here since they’re restricted rather than general school holidays. Independence Day functions are common at schools across the state on the morning of the 15th even though it falls on a Saturday. Private and CBSE-affiliated schools set their own calendars, so it’s worth checking your child’s specific school notice board for any additional local observances.
Where Bank, Office, and School Calendars Diverge This Month
August follows the same pattern that’s shown up since March: banks get nine non-working days this month, built from five Sundays, two standard Saturdays, Independence Day, and Eid-e-Milad. Government offices and schools also pick up Chehlum on top of that same base, landing on ten non-working days overall. Secretariat and Directorate offices in Patna, which already treat every Saturday as a day off under their five-day week, end up with twelve non-working days once all five Saturdays in August are counted alongside Chehlum and Eid-e-Milad. Raksha Bandhan and Last Shravan Monday don’t move any of these totals, since they only apply to individual employees who choose to take them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How many holidays does Bihar get in August 2026? Five occasions are marked on the state’s official calendar — Chehlum (Aug 4, general holiday), Independence Day (Aug 15, public holiday), Last Shravan Monday (Aug 24, restricted), Eid-e-Milad (Aug 26, public holiday), and Raksha Bandhan (Aug 28, restricted).
Q2: Why does Independence Day count as an extra bank holiday this year? August 2026 has five Saturdays, and Independence Day falls on the third one — a Saturday that isn’t part of the standard second-and-fourth-Saturday bank closure pattern. That makes it a genuine extra non-working day rather than one that overlaps with an existing Saturday holiday.
Q3: Is Raksha Bandhan a public holiday in Bihar? No. It’s on Bihar’s restricted (optional) holiday list for 2026, meaning offices, banks, and schools function normally that day unless an individual employee specifically chooses to take it.
Q4: Is Chehlum a bank holiday in Bihar? No. It’s a general holiday for Bihar’s government offices and schools, but it doesn’t appear on the state’s bank holiday circular for August 2026, so bank branches are expected to remain open.
Q5: Is Eid-e-Milad confirmed for August 26, 2026 in Bihar? Bihar’s official calendar lists August 26, though as with any Islamic festival, the exact date depends on moon sighting, and some regional calculations place it a day or two earlier.
Q6: How many bank holidays are there in Bihar in August 2026? Nine in total: five Sundays (2, 9, 16, 23, 30), the second and fourth Saturdays (8 and 22), Independence Day (15), and Eid-e-Milad (26).
Q7: How is Chehlum’s date connected to Muharram? Chehlum falls exactly 40 days after Ashura. Since Muharram was observed on June 26, 2026, counting 40 days forward lands on August 4, 2026 — the date on Bihar’s calendar.
Q8: Are Last Shravan Monday and Raksha Bandhan the only restricted holidays in August 2026? Based on Bihar’s published restricted holiday list for 2026, these are the two confirmed optional dates for August.
Conclusion
August 2026 brings Bihar’s calendar back to life after July’s quiet stretch, with five occasions spanning all three holiday tiers, a genuine Saturday-timing twist on Independence Day, and two festivals that trace their dates directly back to earlier months in the year. Between Chehlum, Independence Day, Eid-e-Milad, and the Shravan-linked restricted holidays, it’s a month worth reading in full rather than assuming it mirrors any other.