In a widespread administrative update affecting millions of primary and secondary school students across India, state education departments and school boards officially confirmed festive holiday schedules starting October 19, 2026, on the occasion of Maha Ashtami and upcoming Dussehra celebrations. According to official state notifications, educational institutions across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala, West Bengal, and Telangana are observing closures ranging from consecutive three-day breaks to extended two-week autumn vacations to accommodate regional cultural observances. While states like West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh have implemented longer holiday periods extending through late October, central school boards including CBSE and ICSE advised individual institutions to issue clear circulars to parents regarding regional exam schedules and reopening dates. School administrators and municipal authorities urged parents to monitor verified institutional communication channels for real-time updates regarding localized weather alerts or adjusted academic timetables, ensuring a smooth transition back to regular classroom instruction following the festive break.

Nationwide Festive Closures Roll Out Across States

State education departments and administrative authorities across India have declared official holiday schedules for public and private schools to mark the autumn festive season. Encompassing major observances—including Durga Ashtami, Maha Navami, Ayudha Pooja, and Vijayadashami (Dussehra)—the holiday notifications establish varying vacation durations tailored to regional cultural calendars.

While several northern and western states have notified consecutive three-day closures around the main festive days, southern and eastern states have enacted comprehensive multi-week autumn vacations to accommodate extended cultural festivities.

Overview: State-Wise Autumn Recess and Dussehra Holiday Schedules

State / RegionDeclared Holiday DurationKey Observances Covered
West BengalOctober 15 to October 26Durga Puja / Autumn Recess
TelanganaClosing through October 22Dasara / Bathukamma Vacation
Andhra PradeshClosing through October 21Dasara Vacation
BiharOctober 17 to October 21Durga Puja & Vijayadashami
Uttar Pradesh & Delhi-NCROctober 18 to October 20Durga Ashtami / Navami & Dussehra
KeralaOctober 19 to October 21Durgashtami, Mahanavami & Vidyarambham

Regional Variations in Vacation Length

The administrative notifications reflect distinct regional approaches to autumn academic breaks:

Festival Holiday Pipeline: ------------------------- Durga Ashtami / Navami (Oct 19) ──> Vijayadashami / Dussehra (Oct 20) ──> Regional Extension ──> School Reopening

  • Eastern India: West Bengal leads the country with the longest continuous holiday block, granting an 11-day autumn recess across primary, secondary, and higher secondary institutions for Durga Puja. Bihar has similarly notified a five-day break connecting Maha Saptami through Vijayadashami.

  • Southern States: Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have implemented extended Dasara vacations, aligning school closures with local traditions. In Kerala, state notifications declared public holidays spanning Durgashtami through Vidyarambham on October 21.

  • Northern & Central Belts: Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR, Uttarakhand, and neighboring regions have coordinated a three-day holiday sequence covering Sunday through Tuesday.

Operational Directives for Schools and Examination Timelines

To ensure that academic syllabi remain on track following the holiday period, state education boards—including CBSE, CISCE, and state secondary divisions—advised schools to publish clear instructions regarding holiday homework and mid-term assessment timetables prior to closing.

Local authorities further noted that public sector banks, government administrative offices, and commercial establishments will observe gazetted holidays on October 20 for Vijayadashami, with regular operations resuming immediately thereafter.