The West Bengal government announced 51 public holidays for 2026, up from 47 in 2025, giving workers almost two months off. The new holidays added are Mahalaya and an extra day after Durga Puja, which falls on a Saturday. This means long breaks for many, but businesses are not happy. Shailendra Singh of Prakash Bulb Industries said, "During the Left regime, there were frequent bandhs, but now there are more closure days. Bengal's work culture has worsened with more valid reasons for government employees not to work. The autumn of 2026 will see Bengal almost shut from Mahalaya to Chhath Puja." Arabinda Dasgupta, MD of Kolkata's oldest bookshop, said many businesses suffer due to rising holidays. "While privileged people enjoy long holidays, the unorganised sector struggles. Durga Puja holidays have stretched from four days to nearly half a month. From Durga Puja to Christmas and other festivals, there are so many holidays people lose track," he added. Dasgupta joked about customers constantly calling to check if the shop is open. "Soon we may print calendars showing mostly red holiday dates with few working days." Education expert Ishita Mukhopadhyay said, "With existing unemployment, frequent school closures will harm education. Holidays around festivals disrupt classroom discipline and work culture." The ruling Trinamool Congress has increased consecutive holidays for festivals. For example, Saraswati Puja in 2026 will have an extra holiday the day before, giving a four-day weekend. A government employee said, "Bengal honors many historical and cultural figures, leading to many holidays. Sometimes holidays maintain community harmony. The problem is not just the number but their concentration, causing short-term work standstills, especially in October." The announcement was made public on November 28, 2025.