Dry Days In March 2026: When Is Sale Of Alcohol Prohibited? Check List

The month of March is set to be a time of celebration with multiple festivals, including Holi and Ram Navami. However, for those who are planning to celebrate any major occasion with a glass of alcohol, the chances are limited. Many festive occasions in the country are classified as dry days. 

Dry days mean that the sale of liquor is prohibited. Restaurants and high-end eateries also cannot serve alcohol to customers. However, it must be pointed out that consumption of liquor is not forbidden; only its sale is. 

Several occasions like Diwali, Holi, Gandhi Jayanti, Ambedkar Jayanti and Christmas are considered dry days in many states of the country. Apart from that, in case of municipal or legislative assembly elections, a dry day can be announced in the corresponding state or city.

Dry Days In March 2026

There are five occasions in March when liquor will not be sold, including festivals like Ram Navami and Holi.

March 4 (Wednesday): Holi

March 21 (Friday): Eid-ul-Fitr

March 23 (Monday): Shaheed Diwas (only in Maharashtra)

March 26 (Friday): Ram Navami

March 31 (Tuesday): Mahavir Jayanti

Also Read: Bank Holidays Next Week: Banks To Remain Closed For Two Days In Last Week Of Feb

Upcoming Dry Days in 2026

Apart from five days in March, these are the upcoming dry days in the country:

April 3 (Friday): Good Friday

April 14 (Tuesday): Ambedkar Jayanti

May 1 (Friday): Maharashtra Day (only in Maharashtra), Buddha Purnima

May 27 (Wednesday): Bakrid, Eid-al-Adha

July 25 (Saturday): Ashadi Ekadashi

July 29 (Wednesday): Guru Purnima

Aug. 15 (Saturday): Independence Day

Aug. 15 (Tuesday): Eid-e-Milad

Sep. 4 (Friday): Janmashthami

Sep. 14 (Monday): Ganesh Chaturthi (only in Maharashtra and Karnataka)

Sep. 25 (Friday): Anant Chaturdashi (only in Maharashtra)

Oct. 2 (Friday): Gandhi Jayanti

Oct. 7 (Wednesday): Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti

Oct. 20 (Tuesday): Dussehra

Nov. 5 (Thursday): Kartiki Ekadashi

Nov. 8 (Sunday): Diwali (only in Delhi NCR)

Nov. 24 (Tuesday): Guru Tegh Bahadur Shaheedi Diwas, Guru Nanak Jayanti

Dec. 25 (Friday): Christmas

Maharashtra Government Issues Clarification On Dry Days

After reports claimed that the Maharashtra Government had allowed liquor stores to remain open on Holi, Muharram, and Gandhi Jayanti, the government issued a clarification stating that these festivals would still be observed as dry days. As per the Economic Times, the Maharashtra excise department dismissed the claims and emphasised that liquor sale restrictions remain unchanged.

Approximately 28 days have been designated as dry days this year.

Also Read: 'Very Serious Concern': Supreme Court On Fluctuation In Airfare, Extra Charges During Festivals, Holiday Season

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