Sri Vijaya Puram, November 15: The Andaman and Nicobar Administration has declared November 16, 2026, a public holiday across government offices, educational institutions and public sector undertakings in the Islands on account of Chhath Puja, revising the earlier restricted holiday notification.
The decision, issued through a notification by the Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Dinesh Sharma, under the Explanation to Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, extends the holiday status to all government offices, autonomous bodies, public sector undertakings and educational institutions under the Andaman and Nicobar Administration.
The notification identifies the occasion as Pratihar Shashthi or Surya Shashthi (Chhath Puja). It also clarifies that the restricted holiday previously notified for November 15, 2026, which falls on a Sunday, will instead be treated as a public holiday on November 16.
The earlier notification, numbered 91/2025 and issued on November 12, 2025, had listed the occasion as a restricted holiday. The latest order, numbered 308/2026, changes its classification and shifts the observance to the following day.
The revised holiday declaration applies to institutions and establishments under the Andaman and Nicobar Administration.
