Parents across India woke up to the same question this Monday morning: is school open today, or is it a holiday? The answer, on October 26, depends almost entirely on where you live. Schools in several states and union territories are closed today for Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti, while in many other states classes are running as normal and only individual schools may have declared a local holiday.
Which states have a confirmed holiday today?
Based on the national holiday calendar and state reports published on October 25, schools and colleges are closed today, October 26, in Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Chandigarh for Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti. Manipur also has a holiday today, for Mera Houchongba, while Tripura has a holiday for Laxmi Puja.
In Delhi, the closure covers government and private schools and colleges, according to reports on Sunday. The Delhi government is also holding a special programme at the Secretariat on Monday under the Department of Social Welfare, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta taking part, to mark the life and teachings of Maharishi Valmiki.
What about Uttar Pradesh? Read this carefully
Uttar Pradesh is the one state where parents need to double-check. One national report says schools and colleges in Uttar Pradesh will remain closed on October 26 for Valmiki Jayanti, and notes a state holiday announcement. The national portal calendar summarised by another major newspaper, however, lists Uttar Pradesh as a restricted or optional holiday.
In practice, that means some schools in Uttar Pradesh may be closed while others run normal classes, depending on the district order and the school’s own calendar. If you are in Uttar Pradesh, do not rely on a generic list. Check your school’s message group or morning circular first. The same caution applies to private, CBSE and ICSE schools elsewhere, which often follow their own academic calendars even when a state lists a holiday.
Where schools are open as normal
No holiday has been confirmed for today in a long list of states, including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, as well as Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry. In these places, parents should assume normal school timings unless their school has sent a specific closure notice.
Rain closures change the picture in Kerala
Separately from the festival calendar, weather has forced closures in Kerala. All educational institutions in Palakkad district, including professional colleges, anganwadis, madrasas, tuition centres and coaching centres, are closed on Monday, October 26, after the District Collector announced the holiday on Sunday following continued heavy rain.
The India Meteorological Department has sounded a red alert for Palakkad on Monday, with warnings of waterlogging, poor visibility, tree falls and possible landslides in hill areas. Examinations scheduled in advance in Palakkad will still be held as planned. Tourist travel to the hill regions of Nelliyampathy and Attappady may be restricted.
Odisha: no closure today, but watch October 28 and 29
Odisha parents should note a different date. The state government has announced the closure of schools, colleges and anganwadi centres in five districts on October 28 and 29 as a precaution against a developing cyclonic system over the Bay of Bengal. That order does not apply to October 26, so schools in Odisha are expected to follow their normal schedule today unless a fresh local order comes in. There is no nationwide school holiday for October 26, and Delhi-NCR has no weather-related closure order for today.
Why Valmiki Jayanti is observed
Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti marks the birth anniversary of Maharishi Valmiki, the sage credited with composing the Ramayana and regarded as the Adi Kavi, or first poet, in Sanskrit literature. The day falls on the full moon of Ashwin, with pujas and cultural programmes across the country.
What parents should do this morning
- Check your school’s official message or notice board before leaving home. That circular overrides any general list.
- If your state is on the confirmed holiday list above, assume closure, but still glance at the school group in case of an exception.
- If you are in Uttar Pradesh or a restricted-holiday state, treat the day as a school day unless your school says otherwise.
- In Palakkad, avoid non-essential travel and follow district advisories, even though scheduled exams will go ahead.
- In coastal Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, keep an eye on fresh IMD and district updates through the week, especially for October 28 and 29.
The simplest rule for today: a state list tells you what is likely, but only your school tells you what is certain.
FAQs
Is today, October 26, a school holiday across India?
No. There is no nationwide school holiday today. Schools are closed in Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Chandigarh for Valmiki Jayanti, and in parts of Kerala for rain, but many states have normal classes.
Are Delhi schools closed today?
Yes, reports published on October 25 confirm Delhi schools and colleges are closed today.
Are schools in Uttar Pradesh closed today?
Unclear from lists alone: one report says holiday, the national portal summary says restricted or optional. Check your school circular.
Are schools in Palakkad closed today?
Yes. All educational institutions in Palakkad district are closed on October 26 due to heavy rain and a red alert, though scheduled exams will still be held.
Are Odisha schools closed today?
No, not today. Odisha’s precautionary closure for five districts applies to October 28 and 29, not October 26.
Stay with Informeia for the latest school holiday updates, weather alerts and education news through the week.
