1 February 2026: Calendar, Festivals, Special Day, Public & Bank Holiday Updates in India

Today

Date - 1 February 2026
Day - Sunday

1. Festivals & Observances

Guru Ravidas Jayanti is observed on Magha Purnima, the full moon day of the Hindu month of Magha, which typically falls in late January or early February. In many regions across India, this sacred day is being observed around 1 February in 2026. This day honours the birth anniversary of Sant Guru Ravidas, the revered 15th-century saint, poet, philosopher, and social reformer who was a prominent figure in the Bhakti Movement.

Guru Ravidas Jayanti holds special significance among followers of the Ravidassia religion and devotees across India, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chandigarh. On this auspicious day, devotees take holy baths in sacred rivers, visit Shri Guru Ravidas Janam Asthan Mandir in Varanasi, participate in Nagar Kirtan processions, and reflect upon the spiritual teachings of Guru Ravidas.

Sant Ravidas was a contemporary of Sant Kabir and contributed 41 devotional hymns to the Guru Granth Sahib. His teachings emphasised equality, social justice, universal brotherhood, compassion, and devotion to the divine. He fought against the caste system and championed the dignity of all human beings regardless of their social background. From a spiritual perspective, this day reminds us that true devotion transcends all worldly divisions, a truth echoed in the Bhagavad Gita where the Supreme Lord accepts sincere devotion from anyone, regardless of their external position.

Additionally, today is also observed as Indian Coast Guard Day, commemorating the establishment of the Indian Coast Guard on 1 February 1977. This day honours the dedication and bravery of Coast Guard personnel who protect India's maritime boundaries, conduct rescue operations, prevent smuggling, and safeguard marine resources.

2. Special Day

The observance of Guru Ravidas Jayanti makes this day spiritually significant for millions of devotees across India. Additionally, Indian Coast Guard Day marks an important national institution's foundation day.

Birth Anniversary

Dr. Amalendu Bandyopadhyay

Renowned Indian astronomer Dr. Amalendu Bandyopadhyay was born on 1 February 1930 in Mugkalyan village of Howrah district, West Bengal. He was the founder director of the Positional Astronomy Centre (PAC) under the Government of India, established on 26 April 1980 in Kolkata. Under his able leadership, India published its own astronomical ephemeris, known as the Indian Astronomical Ephemeris, making India one of the few nations capable of producing such data independently. This was a paradigm shift as India previously had to purchase such data from abroad and now earns foreign exchange by selling it. Dr. Bandyopadhyay joined the Nautical Almanac Unit, Kolkata in 1956 and served until his retirement in 1988. He later joined the M.P. Birla Planetarium, Kolkata in 1993 as a Senior Scientist. Throughout his career spanning over 50 years, he delivered more than 8,000 talks and wrote over 1,000 popular articles in Bengali and English, tirelessly promoting astronomy among all sectors of people. He was a Life Member of the International Astronomical Union, Astronomical Society of India, British Astronomical Association, and an elected Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and Academy of Science and Technology, West Bengal. He passed away on 22 June 2020, leaving behind an eternal legacy in the field of positional astronomy and science popularisation in India.

Jackie Shroff

Legendary Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff was born on 1 February 1957 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Born as Jaikishan Kakubhai Saraf, he rose to stardom with Subhash Ghai's blockbuster film Hero in 1983, which made him an overnight sensation. Over a career spanning more than four decades, Jackie Shroff has appeared in over 250 films across 13 languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, Bengali, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Konkani, Odia, Gujarati, and English. His notable films include Ram Lakhan, Tridev, Khalnayak, Rangeela, Parinda, Devdas, and Sooryavanshi. He has received four Filmfare Awards for his exceptional performances. Known for his distinctive style, charismatic personality, and versatility, Jackie Shroff remains an icon of Indian cinema. He is married to Ayesha Shroff, a film producer, and together they run Jackie Shroff Entertainment Limited. Their son Tiger Shroff is also a successful Bollywood actor.

Death Anniversary

Dr. Kalpana Chawla

Today marks the death anniversary of Dr. Kalpana Chawla, the pioneering Indian-American astronaut and aerospace engineer who became the first woman of Indian origin to fly to space. She was born on 17 March 1962 in Karnal, Haryana, India. After completing her Bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh in 1982, she moved to the United States where she earned her Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder. She became a naturalized United States citizen in the early 1990s. Dr. Chawla was selected by NASA in December 1994 and first flew on Space Shuttle Columbia in November 1997 as a mission specialist and robotic arm operator aboard STS-87. On 1 February 2003, Dr. Kalpana Chawla tragically perished along with six other crew members when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, just 16 minutes before its scheduled landing. The disaster occurred during mission STS-107, a 16-day dedicated science and research mission during which the crew successfully conducted approximately 80 experiments. Her remains were cremated and scattered at Zion National Park in Utah in accordance with her wishes. She was posthumously awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor in 2004. Her legacy continues to inspire millions worldwide, particularly young women aspiring to careers in science, technology, and space exploration. Several landmarks, institutions, and celestial bodies have been named in her honour, including Asteroid 51826 Kalpanachawla, a lunar crater named Chawla, and the meteorological satellite Kalpana-1.

3. Holiday Updates

Public Holiday: Today, 1 February 2026, is not a nationwide gazetted public holiday in India. However, Guru Ravidas Jayanti is observed as a restricted holiday (optional holiday) by the Central Government, subject to state-specific notifications. Some states with significant Ravidassia communities, particularly Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, may observe this day with greater significance.

Bank Holiday: Today is Sunday. As per Reserve Bank of India guidelines, all banks across India remain closed on Sundays as part of the regular weekly holiday schedule. Regular banking services will resume on Monday, 2 February 2026. Digital banking services including UPI, net banking, mobile banking, and ATM services remain fully operational.