Karnataka Corporate Offices Skip Ugadi Holiday; Employees Move to File Complaints — Why Should We Beg Leave for Our Own Festival?

Bengaluru - Karnataka: Employees working in several corporate and private offices across Karnataka have raised concerns after their companies reportedly did not declare a holiday for Ugadi, which will be observed on 19 March 2026. Ugadi marks the traditional New Year for Kannadigas and is considered one of the most important cultural festivals in the state. The day is usually celebrated with temple visits, family gatherings, and traditional rituals that welcome the new year according to the lunar calendar. However, several employees working in private and multinational companies say they have been asked to apply for personal leave if they wish to celebrate the festival on 19 March 2026. Many workers feel that a festival so closely associated with Karnataka’s cultural identity should be recognized within corporate holiday calendars. In technology hubs such as Bengaluru, where thousands of professionals work in corporate offices, employees say internal company holiday lists often do not include Ugadi as a mandatory holiday. According to employees, some workers are now trying to register formal complaints with relevant authorities, stating that companies operating within Karnataka should acknowledge important regional festivals observed by the local community. Workers say that if companies benefit from the state’s workforce and infrastructure, respecting key cultural festivals of the region should also form part of workplace practices. For many Kannadigas, the question remains: when Ugadi is their own New Year and falls on 19 March 2026, why should they need to request leave to celebrate it in Karnataka? 🌿