School Holidays: In India, people celebrate several festivals with immense enthusiasm during the month of October. The festive season in October begins with Gandhi Jayanti. Students eagerly await school holidays so they can take a break from their studies and have some fun. With October now underway, it is important for students and their parents to know the specific dates when schools will remain closed.

The Education Department’s 2026 holiday calendar indicates that schools will observe holidays for various festivals, including Durga Puja and Chhath. However, schools will also remain open on several days amidst these holidays. Let us find out when the school holidays fall in October.

When will schools remain closed in October?
According to the 2026 school holiday calendar, schools will be closed on October 11 for the occasion of Durga Puja Kalash Sthapana. A five-day holiday has been scheduled for Durga Puja from October 17 to October 21. In total, there will be eight days of holidays in October due to festivals (excluding Sundays). The five-day Durga Puja break runs from October 17 to 21, after which schools will reopen on October 22. Apart from festivals, schools will also remain closed on the Sundays of October 11, 18, and 25.

How many days of holidays are there from Diwali to Chhath?
In government schools in Bihar, there will be a 10-day holiday period from November 7 to November 17, 2026, covering Diwali, Chitragupta Puja, Bhaiyya Dooj, and Chhath Puja. During this time, children will not have to attend school for several consecutive days—a prospect they will surely enjoy. Classes will resume in schools on November 18.

October Holiday List:

11 October 2026 – Sunday
18 October 2026 – Durga Puja
19 & 20 October 2026 – Dussehra/Maha Ashtami/Vijayadashami
25 October 2026 – Sunday
26 October 2026 – Maharshi Valmiki Jayanti
29 October 2026 – Karwa Chauth (Leave is granted to female teachers)

Students should note that these holidays may vary by state. For instance, Durga Puja is celebrated with considerable fanfare, particularly in West Bengal; in that state, holidays for the festival might begin as early as 15 October. The holiday for Karwa Chauth applies only to female teachers. Similarly, the dates for the Dussehra holidays may shift by a day or two depending on the state. You can contact your school to obtain complete details regarding the holiday.