1Dry Days in October 2026: Liquor shops, bars and pubs will remain closed for several days in many states of India in October 2026. According to the state excise departments and the national calendar, there are major national and religious festivals like Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra in October, during which there will be a complete ban on the sale of liquor.
In India, the rules related to liquor are decided by the Excise Department of every state and union territory as per their own. Therefore, the dates of Dry Day and the total number of days may differ slightly in different states.
Major Dry Days of October 2026
There will be a ban on sale of liquor throughout the country during major national occasions and major festivals:
- 2 October 2026 (Friday): Gandhi Jayanti (liquor shops will remain closed across the country)
- 7 October 2026 (Wednesday): Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti (Applicable in select states of North India including Delhi and Uttar Pradesh)
- 20 October 2026 (Tuesday): Dussehra / Vijayadashami (ban on sale of liquor in most states of the country)
On these dates, liquor retail shops, wholesale warehouses, hotels, restaurants, bars and pubs will remain completely closed.
State and regional restrictions
Apart from national holidays, many states also declare dry days on the basis of birth anniversaries of local great men, regional festivals or elections.
For example, in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, there is a dry day on Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti. Similarly, if there are local body elections or any big religious procession in any area in the month of October, then the administration there can declare a separate dry day. For correct and complete information, see the instructions of your state’s excise department.
What is a dry day?
Dry days are those special days when there is a strict ban by the government on selling and serving liquor. This restriction is usually imposed to maintain law and order, maintain peace and to respect national and religious occasions.
On national occasions like Gandhi Jayanti, rules are implemented simultaneously in the entire country, while states have the right to decide dry days on festivals. If any shop or bar is caught selling liquor on a dry day, it can be fined heavily or its license can be cancelled.