In India, celebrations are dependent on the calendar to check dry days. Dry days are basically the mentioned dates when restaurants, bars, liquor shops, and other places that serve alcohol are prohibited from the same. They are generally observed on national holidays, festivals, or general elections in order to maintain law and order. So, as April is just around the corner, we are sure you might have many reasons to celebrate, but before you plan anything, here’s a checklist of the dry days in April 2026.
A dry day in India is a day when the government bans the sale and, in some cases, even the consumption of alcohol temporarily. On such days, establishments like bars, hotels, liquor shops, pubs, and restaurants are not allowed to sell alcohol.
These dry days are usually declared on major religious festivals or national holidays like Independence Day, Republic day and Gandhi Jayanti, and also on community-focused celebrations.
The rules for dry days and their observance may vary from state to state, depending upon the festival or occasion. This means that some states might have stricter compliance than others. Hence, the state excise departments notify the list of dry days every year. These dry days are observed to respect religious sentiments and promote public order. This also reduces the occurrence of incidents that are linked to alcohol-fuelled behaviour.
In the month of April 2026, there will be two dry days observed as follows:
Date | Day | Occasion |
April 3 | Friday | Good Friday |
April 14 | Tuesday | Ambedkar Jayanti |
Yes, it is Good Friday on April 3, 2026, and it will be observed as a dry day in many states and cities in India. These places include parts of Delhi, Maharashtra, Goa, Bangalore, and Kerala.
Good Friday is a Christian holiday marking the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ at Calvary. The day is observed on a Friday right before Easter and commemorates the day when Jesus sacrificed his life for humanity’s sins.
It is a day of fasting, repentance, and reflection observed by Christians in India and across the world. This day also marks the beginning of a holy week leading to his resurrection on Easter. It is one of the most sacred days in Christianity that is observed to mourn the crucifixion of Lord Jesus, hence it is observed as a dry day.
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Yes, it is Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14, 2026, and it will be observed as a dry day in many states and cities in India. These places include parts of Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand.
Ambedkar Jayanti marks the birth anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, in India. By drafting the Indian Constitution, he laid the foundation of a democratic nation. He spent his life fighting for the rights of Dalits, women, and oppressed communities in India.
This day is observed as a dry day to honor Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, his sacrifices, his struggles, and his achievements. It is mandatory to observe this day as a dry day to uphold public law and order, as well as respect for this occasion.
We have mentioned the dry days that will be observed in the upcoming month of April 2026. There will be two days in April when the sale of alcohol in any alcohol serving establishment will be temporarily banned. So make sure you take note of these days and plan your celebrations accordingly.
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