Sheikh Abdullah’s birth anniversary, Martyrs’ Day again omitted from J&K holiday list for 2026

The official list of holidays for 2026 released by the Jammu and Kashmir General Administration Department (GAD) has once again omitted two significant dates — Martyrs’ Day and the birth anniversary of National Conference (NC) founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah — both of which the elected government has been seeking to have reinstated.

This marks the second consecutive year since the formation of the elected government that the GAD, acting on the orders of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, has not included the two dates in the official holiday calendar.

Following the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in August 2019, the administration had removed two public holidays from the calendar: July 13, observed as Martyrs’ Day to commemorate the 22 civilians killed by Dogra Maharaja’s forces in 1931, and December 5, marking the birth anniversary of Sheikh Abdullah.

After assuming office, the National Conference-led government had expressed hope that both holidays would be restored. However, the holiday list for 2026 released on Saturday makes no mention of either Martyrs’ Day or Sheikh Abdullah’s birth anniversary.

The issue has remained politically sensitive in the Union Territory. In July this year, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the Martyrs’ Graveyard in Srinagar’s old city to pay tributes to those killed on July 13, 1931. He reportedly confronted police personnel, walked on foot and scaled a wall to enter the graveyard, which had been heavily guarded.