Stories
Indian Man in Australia Reveals Surprising Public Holiday Culture: "Fun Shouldn't Stop!"
N
News18•02-10-2026, 10:08
Indian Man in Australia Reveals Surprising Public Holiday Culture: "Fun Shouldn't Stop!"
- •Aditya Khaneja, an Indian man living in Australia for a decade, humorously compared public holiday traditions in both countries via an Instagram video.
- •He noted Australia celebrates holidays for events like horse races (Melbourne Cup Day) and local fairs (Royal Queensland Show, Picnic Day), emphasizing a culture of leisure.
- •In contrast, Khaneja highlighted that Indian holidays are predominantly linked to religious festivals (Diwali) and national occasions (Independence Day).
- •Khaneja praised Australia's system of replacement days off when a public holiday falls on a weekend, ensuring a longer break, unlike India where such holidays are often lost.
- •He concluded that the world could learn from Australia's approach to making time for enjoyment, stating, "The fun shouldn't stop."
Key Questions Answered
Aditya Khaneja expressed surprise that Australia observes public holidays for events like the AFL Grand Final, Melbourne Cup Day, local fairs, and Picnic Day.
According to Khaneja, if a holiday falls on a Saturday in Australia, the government gives Friday as a replacement day off, and if it falls on a Sunday, people get Monday instead. In contrast, he noted that a weekend holiday in India can feel like the end of the world.
When asked by a social media user about the total number of public holidays in Australia, Aditya Khaneja replied that there are 13.
