Good Friday Description
Good Friday on April 3, 2026 commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and is observed as a gazetted holiday across India. India has a significant Christian population of approximately 28 million, concentrated in Kerala (where Christians form about 18% of the population), Goa, Tamil Nadu, and the northeastern states of Nagaland, Mizoram, and Meghalaya. Churches hold special services, often including the Way of the Cross procession and readings of the Passion. In Kerala, elaborate Passion plays are performed in many parishes. Goa and Kerala's historic Portuguese-influenced churches — including the Basilica of Bom Jesus (Old Goa) and St. Francis Church (Fort Kochi) — hold particularly well-attended services. Government offices, banks, post offices, and schools are closed nationwide. Many private offices also close or grant optional leave. The holiday is part of the Easter weekend (Good Friday through Easter Sunday), and many Christian families use this time for family gatherings and traditional Easter meals. In states like Kerala and Goa, most businesses close, while in largely non-Christian states, commercial activity continues largely unaffected. Hotels in Goa and Kerala are typically booked during Easter.
