Around the time of the general election, nearly a week of public holidays was observed. The government declared three days of public holiday from Falgun 20 to 22 for the election. Prior to that, Holi (Fagu Purnima) holidays were granted on Falgun 18 in 56 districts and on Falgun 19 in 21 Terai districts. With Falgun 23 falling on a Saturday, this resulted in almost a full week of public holidays. Additionally, women are entitled to a holiday on Falgun 24 for International Women’s Day.
The government has decided to provide more than 80 days of public holidays in the year 2082 BS. For the upcoming year 2083 BS, it has planned a total of 109 public holiday days, including Saturdays, festivals, birth anniversaries, and special observance days. Some of these holidays will be observed nationwide, while others will apply only to specific regions or communities.
Eight categories of public holidays have been determined. In 2082 BS, 52 Saturdays are designated as public holidays. Festival holidays are granted to all, while certain holidays are allocated specifically for women employees, educational institutions, religious fairs (jatras), special observance days, employees with disabilities, and community-specific events.
Nepali diplomatic missions abroad are allowed to manage and adjust up to 18 days of public holidays based on the host country’s holiday calendar. Similarly, provincial and local governments may grant up to six additional public holidays based on local religion, culture, and traditions.
Business leaders say that the growing number of public holidays has started to affect the private sector. They report that workers often do not show up during public holidays, and with government offices closed, various administrative processes are delayed, creating operational difficulties.
Rabi Singh, President of the Federation of Contractors’ Associations of Nepal, stated that excessive public holidays are negatively impacting work progress. He noted that although Nepal is geographically and demographically small compared to neighboring countries, its cultural diversity has led to an increasing number of holidays, which in turn affects the economy.
According to him, granting holidays to all communities simultaneously has resulted in fewer effective working days. He argued that holidays should be limited to the concerned communities only, warning that excessive holidays contribute to reduced GDP growth and economic slowdown. He also mentioned that when government employees stay home due to holidays, the private sector bears significant losses.
Singh further emphasized that observances such as Martyrs’ Day do not necessarily require a public holiday and suggested that programs could be conducted alongside regular work. In the construction sector, he said, frequent public holidays make it increasingly difficult to maintain project timelines, as workers often remain absent during festival periods, causing delays.
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