Schools may stay shut for up to 11 days in October 2026 with festival and weekend holidays
Gandhi Jayanti, Ghatasthapana and Dussehra, added to weekly offs, could keep schools closed for 11 days in October 2026.
October 2026 is packed with festivals, and schoolchildren will feel the effect directly. They will get some relief from studies and homework, as schools are set to have a large number of holidays this month.
Counting festival holidays and the weekly Saturday and Sunday offs together, schools may remain closed for a full 11 days. Gandhi Jayanti, Ghatasthapana, Navratri festivities and Dussehra all fall in this month. Parents and children can begin planning their holidays now.
The likely dates are as follows. October 2, a Friday, is the national holiday for Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti. It is followed by Saturday, October 3, and Sunday, October 4, the weekly offs, so schools may stay closed for three days in a row from Friday to Sunday.
Saturday, October 10, is a weekly off. Sunday, October 11, is Ghatasthapana and also a weekly off. Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18, are weekly offs.
Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, falls on October 20, and there will be a holiday for it. Towards the end of the month, October 24 (Saturday), October 25 (Sunday) and October 31 (Saturday) are weekly offs. Together these make 11 days.
The picture is not the same in all schools. Some schools are closed on both Saturday and Sunday, while others are closed only on Sunday. In schools closed on both days, adding the festival holidays can bring the total to 11 days. Such a long break will give children a good chance to spend time with their families and enjoy the festivals.
School holidays also vary mainly according to the rules of the state and its board. For instance, the enthusiasm for Durga Puja is very high in West Bengal, while regional festivals such as Bathukamma are given special importance in Telangana. For this reason, the holiday schedule may differ somewhat from state to state.
