March 2026 is the busiest month on the Bihar Sarkar calendar so far this year, and it comes with a genuine twist: a rare lunar eclipse quietly shifted one of India’s biggest festivals by a full day. This Bihar Calendar March 2026 guide lists every general holiday, public festival holiday, bank holiday, and school holiday for the month, explains why Holi’s exact date confused so many last-minute searchers, and breaks down exactly how many real off-days government employees, bank customers, and students get this month.
Whether you searched for the Bihar Sarkar Calendar March 2026 to plan a bank visit, check when Holi colours are actually being played this year, look up your child’s school break, or simply want to know if Ram Navami and Mahavir Jayanti fall close together, everything below has been cross-checked against Bihar’s 2026 state holiday notification and the Reserve Bank of India’s standard closure pattern for banks in Patna and across the state.
Bihar Calendar March 2026 at a Glance
| Date | Day | Occasion | Holiday Type | Who Gets It Off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 3, 2026 | Tuesday | Holika Dahan (Choti Holi) | Public holiday | Government offices, banks, schools |
| March 4, 2026 | Wednesday | Rangwali Holi (Dhulandi) | Public holiday | Government offices, banks, schools |
| March 14, 2026 | Saturday | Second Saturday | Bank holiday | Bank customers |
| March 21, 2026 | Saturday | Eid-ul-Fitr | Public holiday | Government offices, banks, schools |
| March 22, 2026 | Sunday | Bihar Diwas — coincides with the weekly Sunday off | Public holiday | Everyone (already off for Sunday) |
| March 26, 2026 | Thursday | Samrat Ashok Ashtami | General holiday | Government offices, schools |
| March 27, 2026 | Friday | Ram Navami | Public holiday | Government offices, banks, schools |
| March 28, 2026 | Saturday | Fourth Saturday | Bank holiday | Bank customers |
| March 31, 2026 | Tuesday | Mahavir Jayanti | Public holiday | Government offices, banks, schools |
Compare that with a quieter month like February, which had just three occasions and only one real extra holiday. March 2026 is stacked, and almost every date on it means a fresh day away from your desk, your bank branch, or your classroom.
Download the Bihar Calendar March 2026 PDF
Save it to your phone or print it for your desk — the PDF lays out every date on this page in a clean, single-page format. If any government notification changes, we’ll update both this page and the PDF to match.
Bihar’s Weather in March 2026
March sits right at the edge between Bihar’s short winter and its early summer, and the shift is noticeable within the month itself. Early March still feels pleasant, with mornings around 15–18°C and afternoons climbing to a comfortable 27–30°C, making it good weather for outdoor Holi celebrations. By the last week of the month, daytime highs push past 32–33°C, and the first hints of pre-summer heat start to show up, especially in Patna, Gaya, and the southern districts. Carry water and light cotton clothing if you’re stepping out for Ram Navami processions or Mahavir Jayanti temple visits toward month-end, since afternoons by then are noticeably warmer than they were during Holi week.
March also overlaps with board exam season for many Bihar schools, so families should check their child’s specific exam timetable alongside the holiday list, since practical exams or internal assessments can sometimes run on dates that are otherwise marked off.
Holi 2026 in Bihar — March 3–4 (Tuesday–Wednesday)
Holi marks the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil, rooted in the story of Prahlad and the demoness Holika. Holika Dahan, observed on the evening of March 3, 2026, involves lighting a bonfire and offering prayers, while Rangwali Holi (also called Dhulandi) on March 4 is the main day of colours, water, sweets, and music that most people associate with the festival. Because of the total lunar eclipse on March 3, several regions across India debated whether to hold the bonfire that evening or shift it entirely — but with the eclipse ending by early evening, most panchang authorities and Bihar’s own calendar kept Holika Dahan on March 3, with colour-play the next day as usual. Government offices, banks, and schools across Bihar remain closed on both days.
Eid-ul-Fitr 2026 in Bihar — March 21 (Saturday)
Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of the month-long Ramzan fast and is one of the most significant days in the Islamic calendar, observed with special morning prayers, family gatherings, and charity. Bihar’s official calendar lists March 21, 2026 as the holiday date, though — as with any Islamic festival — the exact day depends on moon sighting and can shift by a day depending on when the Shawwal crescent is spotted. Worth noting: March 21 falls on the month’s third Saturday, which isn’t one of the standard second-or-fourth-Saturday bank holidays, so this is a genuinely extra closure day for banks rather than one that would have happened anyway.
Bihar Diwas 2026 — March 22 (Sunday)
Also written as Bihar Divas, this day marks the anniversary of March 22, 1912, when the Bihar and Orissa divisions were carved out of the Bengal Presidency to form a separate province under British India — the moment Bihar became a state in its own right. Government offices, schools, and cultural institutions across Patna and other cities typically mark the day with functions, exhibitions, and cultural programs celebrating Bihar’s history and heritage. Since March 22, 2026 falls on a Sunday, it doesn’t add a fresh day off this year, though the celebrations themselves go ahead regardless of the weekday.
Samrat Ashok Ashtami 2026 — March 26 (Thursday)
This is one of the more distinctive entries on Bihar’s holiday list, and one you won’t find on most other states’ calendars. Samrat Ashok Ashtami honours Emperor Ashoka, the Mauryan ruler whose empire was governed from Pataliputra — the ancient city that stands where modern Patna is today. Bihar’s state government marks the occasion as a general holiday for government offices and schools, reflecting the emperor’s deep historical connection to the region. It’s worth flagging that, based on Bihar’s current bank holiday circular for March 2026, Samrat Ashok Ashtami does not appear on the list of RBI-notified bank closures for the state, meaning bank branches are expected to function as usual on this date even though government offices and most schools stay shut. If you have a branch visit planned around March 26, it’s still worth a quick call ahead to confirm, since local notifications can occasionally add exceptions.
Ram Navami 2026 in Bihar — March 27 (Friday)
Ram Navami celebrates the birth of Lord Rama and falls on the ninth day (Navami) of the bright half of the Chaitra month, marking the culmination of Chaitra Navratri. Temples across Bihar, including well-known ones in Patna and Vaishali district, see processions, recitations of the Ramcharitmanas, and community gatherings on this day. It’s listed as a public holiday on Bihar’s official calendar, closing government offices, banks, and schools statewide.
Mahavir Jayanti 2026 in Bihar — March 31 (Tuesday)
Mahavir Jayanti marks the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, observed on the thirteenth day of Chaitra Shukla Paksha. There’s a nice local connection here for Bihar specifically: Mahavira is traditionally believed to have been born in Kundagrama, near Vaishali, which places his birthplace within present-day Bihar. Jain temples hold prayers, processions, and charitable events on this day, and it closes government offices, banks, and schools across the state as a public holiday.
Bihar’s Holiday Categories, Explained
Bihar’s 2026 calendar isn’t one flat list — it actually splits into three tiers, and knowing which one a date falls into tells you exactly who gets the day off.
| Category | Decided By | Applies To | March 2026 Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| General holidays | Government of Bihar | All state government offices and schools | Samrat Ashok Ashtami (Mar 26) |
| Public / festival holidays | Government of Bihar | Government offices, banks, and schools | Holi (Mar 3–4), Eid-ul-Fitr (Mar 21), Bihar Diwas (Mar 22), Ram Navami (Mar 27), Mahavir Jayanti (Mar 31) |
| Restricted (optional) holidays | Employee’s own choice, from a state-approved list | Only employees who select the date | None additional for March 2026 |
The key distinction that matters most this month is between “general” and “public” holidays — general holidays like Samrat Ashok Ashtami are compulsory for government offices and schools but don’t automatically apply to banks, while public/festival holidays are the ones that close nearly everything, banks included.
Government Office Timings in Bihar: 5-Day vs 6-Day Week
Not every Bihar government office follows the same weekly schedule, which is worth knowing if you’re trying to time a visit. Secretariat and Directorate offices in Patna already follow a five-day working week, meaning they’re closed on every Saturday regardless of which one it is, on top of the festival dates above. Regional and district-level offices, on the other hand, typically follow a six-day week and only get the second and fourth Saturday off — the same pattern banks follow. So depending on which type of office you’re dealing with, your actual number of March off-days could look a little different from the bank holiday count below.
Bihar Bank Holidays — March 2026
Bank closures in Bihar follow the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, plus the RBI’s standing rule that every bank shuts on the second and fourth Saturday of the month, in addition to all Sundays. Here’s how March 2026 lines up:
| Date | Day | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| March 1, 2026 | Sunday | Weekly holiday |
| March 3, 2026 | Tuesday | Holika Dahan |
| March 4, 2026 | Wednesday | Rangwali Holi (Dhulandi) |
| March 8, 2026 | Sunday | Weekly holiday |
| March 14, 2026 | Saturday | Second Saturday |
| March 15, 2026 | Sunday | Weekly holiday |
| March 21, 2026 | Saturday | Eid-ul-Fitr |
| March 22, 2026 | Sunday | Weekly holiday (coincides with Bihar Diwas) |
| March 27, 2026 | Friday | Ram Navami |
| March 28, 2026 | Saturday | Fourth Saturday |
| March 29, 2026 | Sunday | Weekly holiday |
| March 31, 2026 | Tuesday | Mahavir Jayanti |
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Sundays | 5 |
| Second & fourth Saturdays | 2 |
| Festival closures on extra days (Holika Dahan, Rangwali Holi, Eid-ul-Fitr, Ram Navami, Mahavir Jayanti) | 5 |
| Total non-working days for banks | 12 |
Twelve non-working days makes March 2026 the busiest month for Bihar’s banking calendar so far this year — nearly double February’s tally. Branches stay shut on all of these dates, though ATMs, UPI, and net banking continue to work normally; cheque clearance is usually the main thing that slows down. If you have a specific transaction planned, especially close to the Holi break or the Eid weekend, it’s worth handling it a day or two early.
Bihar School Holidays — March 2026
Bihar’s Education Department calendar marks the following dates for government and government-aided schools, including Sanskrit, Urdu, and Madrasa institutions, in March:
| Date | Day | Occasion |
|---|---|---|
| March 3, 2026 | Tuesday | Holika Dahan |
| March 4, 2026 | Wednesday | Rangwali Holi |
| March 21, 2026 | Saturday | Eid-ul-Fitr |
| March 22, 2026 | Sunday | Bihar Diwas (coincides with the weekly off) |
| March 26, 2026 | Thursday | Samrat Ashok Ashtami |
| March 27, 2026 | Friday | Ram Navami |
| March 31, 2026 | Tuesday | Mahavir Jayanti |
That’s six genuinely fresh days off for students this month, since only Bihar Diwas falls on a day that was already free. Private and CBSE-affiliated schools generally follow a similar pattern but set their own calendars, and with board exams often running through March, it’s worth checking your child’s school notice board or app directly, since exam schedules can sometimes take priority over a listed holiday.
Where Bank Holidays and General Holidays Don’t Match
This is the one place where March 2026 genuinely trips people up: not every date that closes a government office or school also closes a bank. Samrat Ashok Ashtami (March 26) is a good example — it’s a general holiday for Bihar’s government offices and schools, but it doesn’t appear on the bank holiday circular for the month, so branches are expected to stay open. If you’re a bank customer, the second table above is the one to trust; if you’re a government employee or a parent checking school dates, use the school and general-holiday listings instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: How many holidays does Bihar get in March 2026? Six occasions appear on the state’s calendar this month — Holika Dahan and Rangwali Holi (Mar 3–4), Eid-ul-Fitr (Mar 21), Bihar Diwas (Mar 22), Samrat Ashok Ashtami (Mar 26), Ram Navami (Mar 27), and Mahavir Jayanti (Mar 31). Only Bihar Diwas doesn’t add a fresh day off, since it falls on a Sunday.
Q2: Is Holi on March 3 or March 4 in Bihar in 2026? Both dates matter. Holika Dahan (the bonfire ritual) is on March 3, and Rangwali Holi or Dhulandi (the main colour-play day) is on March 4. Bihar’s official calendar gives government offices, banks, and schools both days off.
Q3: Why did Holika Dahan’s date change for 2026? A total lunar eclipse fell on March 3, 2026. Since the eclipse’s Sutak period is considered inauspicious for rituals, Holika Dahan was held after the eclipse ended that evening rather than a day earlier, which is what some early calendars had originally listed.
Q4: Is Eid-ul-Fitr confirmed for March 21, 2026 in Bihar? Bihar’s official state calendar lists March 21, 2026, though like all Islamic festivals, the exact date depends on moon sighting and could shift by a day depending on when the Shawwal crescent is confirmed closer to the date.
Q5: Is Samrat Ashok Ashtami a bank holiday? No. It’s a general holiday for Bihar government offices and schools, but based on the current bank holiday list for March 2026, it doesn’t appear as an RBI-notified closure day for banks. It’s still worth confirming with your specific branch if you have plans that day.
Q6: How many bank holidays are there in Bihar in March 2026? Twelve in total: five Sundays (1, 8, 15, 22, 29), the second and fourth Saturdays (14 and 28), and five festival closures — Holika Dahan, Rangwali Holi, Eid-ul-Fitr, Ram Navami, and Mahavir Jayanti.
Q7: Is Bihar Diwas a fresh day off in 2026? No. March 22, 2026 falls on a Sunday, which is already a standing weekly holiday, so Bihar Diwas doesn’t add any additional leave this year, even though it’s still marked and celebrated on the calendar.
Q8: Are there any restricted or optional holidays in Bihar in March 2026? Based on Bihar’s published restricted holiday list for 2026, no additional optional dates fall in March beyond the general and public holidays already covered above.
Conclusion
March 2026 is the richest month on the Bihar Sarkar calendar so far — six occasions, a genuine astronomical plot twist behind Holi’s dates, and a total of twelve non-working days for banks. Between the Holika Dahan correction, Bihar Diwas quietly landing on a Sunday, and Samrat Ashok Ashtami closing offices and schools without closing banks, this is a month worth double-checking before you plan a visit, a trip, or a leave application.