2015: Holidays and Vacations

Posted On: September 6, 2014

2015 Holidays and Vacations for Teams Working Between the USA and India

(See 2016 calendar. See 2017 calendar)

Need for this Calendar
This calendar will be useful for Indians and Americans working between the two countries and cultures.

As India is a diverse country which celebrates different holidays in different parts of the country, this calendar mainly focuses on:

India-wide Government Holidays
Kerala Holidays
Select South Indian (Tamil, Andhra, Karnataka) Holidays
Always ask your India-based team which holidays they support. Holidays are not standard across the board. Some may be floating holidays. Your company’s HR would be the best resource for this.

When you click on the holidays which are linked, you will learn more about that holiday or learn about some small talk topics related to that holiday.

When is ….. in 2015?

What holidays happen in January 2015?
1 – New Year’s Day
3 – Nabhidinam
5 – Guru Gobindsingh’s Birthday (Sikh)
14 – Pongal (Tamil Harvest Festival)
14 – Sabarimala Makaravilakku (Kerala)
19 – Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday
24 or 25 – Vasant Panchami
26 – Republic Day

What vacation days are in February 2015?
2 – Groundhog’s Day
3 – Guru Ravidas’s Birthday (Sikh)
3 – Thaipusam
4 – Tu B’Shvat, The New Year for Trees
14 – Valentine’s Day
17 – Mahashivarathri
19 – Shivaji Jayanti (Maharasthra)
19 – Swami Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti

Which Indian festivals happen in March 2015?
All Month – March Madness
5 – Purim
6 – Holi
8 – Daylight Savings Time Begins
15 – Attukal Pongala (Kerala)
16 – President’s Day (School holiday)
17 – St. Patrick’s Day
27 – Ramanavami
29 – Palm Sunday

What celebrations occur in April 2015?
1 – April Fool’s Day
3 – Good Friday
5 – Easter
14 – Baishakhi
14 – Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti
14 – Tamil New Year
14 – Vishu (Kerala)
15 – Tax Day USA
15-16 – Yom HaShoah
20 or 21 – Akshaya Tritiya
22 – Earth Day
April End – School Ends India

Are there any American holidays in May 2015?
1 – May Day
3 – Buddha Purnima
5 – Cinco De Mayo
10 – Mother’s Day
15 or 16 – Laylat al-Miraj
25 – Memorial Day
May mid to June end- school ends USA

What special occasions happen in June 2015?
Throughout June – Graduation Season USA

June beginning – School Starts India

18 – Ramadan Starts
19 – Juneteenth
21 – Father’s Day

What small talk topics can I talk about for holidays in July 2015?

4 – Independence Day (USA)

13 or 14- Laylat al-Baraat

17 – Eid al-Fitr

26 – Tisha B’Av

Are there any days off in August 2015?
13 – Laylat al-Qadr
15 – Independence Day (India)
August mid- September – “Back to School Season” School starts USA
28 – Onam
29 – Rakhi

Which days can we take leave in September 2015?
5 – Krishna Jayanthi
7 – Labor Day (USA)
11 – Patriot Day (USA)
14 – Rosh Hashanah
17 – Ganesh Chathurthi
23 – Yom Kippur

24– Eid al-Adha
28 – Oct 4 – Sukkot

What holidays happen in October 2015?
2 – Gandhi Jayanthi
12 – Columbus Day
15 – Islamic New Year / Muharram
13 – 21 – Navarathri
21 or 22 – Vijaya Dashami, Vidhyarmbam (end of Navarathri)
23 or 24 – Ashura
31 – Halloween

Do any Indian festivals happen in November 2015?
1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday, US Election Day
1 – Kerala and Tamil Nadu Day
1 – Daylight Savings Time Ends
11 – Diwali / Deepawali
11 – Veterans Day
20 – Children’s Day
25 – Guru Nanak’s Birthday
25 – Kathigai Deepam
26 – Thanksgiving (USA)
27 – Black Friday

Are there any vacation days in American offices December 2015?
6 – Chanukah/Hanukkah
24 – Christmas Eve
24 – Nabhidinam
25 – Christmas Day
26 – Jan 1 – Kwanzaa
29 – New Year’s Eve

Thank you for spending your time on the Authentic Journeys blog.

Jennifer Kumar is the Managing Director of Authentic Journeys, a consultancy helping Indian businesses bridge the cultural gap with their American counterparts. Contact her for your business consulting needs by clicking here.

Event calendar vector created by storyset – www.freepik.com