If you were planning to send your child to school this morning, check once before leaving the house. Schools across large parts of India are closed today, Monday, October 19, and many will stay shut tomorrow, October 20, as the country celebrates Durga Ashtami and Dussehra.
The two-day break lands right at the tail end of Navratri. While some schools had already announced an autumn break covering the festival week, state governments in Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Jharkhand and Bihar have formally declared holidays for educational institutions on these dates, according to reports. A number of private schools in other states are following the same schedule.
Why schools are shut on October 19 and 20
Today, October 19, is Durga Ashtami, also called Maha Ashtami, the eighth day of Navratri. It honours Goddess Durga and the victory of good over evil. Tomorrow, October 20, is Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, which marks Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana and Goddess Durga’s triumph over the buffalo demon Mahishasura. It also brings the nine-day Navratri festival to a close.
There is a small but important detail in the holiday calendar. Dussehra on October 20 figures in the gazetted holidays list for 2026, so government schools and offices observing it will stay closed without any extra announcement. Maha Ashtami on October 19, on the other hand, is not a gazetted holiday this year. Schools are closing for it either on the state government’s order or on their own call, which is why parents should not assume every school in their city is following the same schedule.
Which states have declared holidays
Going by the circulars issued so far, the picture looks like this:
- Uttar Pradesh: educational institutions remain closed on both days.
- Bihar: schools and colleges closed for the festival dates.
- Jharkhand: holiday declared for schools across the state.
- Kerala: schools closed; the state often aligns its school calendar with the festival season.
- Other states: many schools, especially in Delhi, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, are either observing an autumn break this week or have announced the two days as holidays on their own. West Bengal’s schools are anyway in Puja vacation mode.
Because school holidays vary by state, and sometimes by district or even by school, the safest bet is to treat this list as a guide, not a guarantee.
Autumn break versus single-day holidays
This year the festival calendar has created two kinds of breaks. In several states, schools wrapped the Dussehra holidays into a longer autumn or mid-term break, so students there have been off for a few days already and will return later this week. In others, schools functioned normally through last week and are simply closing for the two festival days.
For working parents, the practical difference matters. A school that is on autumn break will usually have sent a full vacation circular with the reopening date. A school closing only for October 19 and 20 may reopen as early as Wednesday, October 21, and some schools are holding special assemblies or cultural programmes on the first day back.
What parents and students should do today
- Check your school’s official channel. Look at the school broadcast group, the official app or the notice board circular before assuming a holiday.
- Do not rely on forwarded messages alone. Holiday lists circulating on WhatsApp mix up states and dates every year. Cross-check with your own school.
- Note the reopening date. Some schools resume on October 21, others later in the week. Mark it now so there is no confusion on Wednesday morning.
- Plan around tuition and transport. School buses will not run on the holiday days, and many private tuition centres also stay closed for Dussehra.
- Keep an eye on pending assignments. With board exam season approaching, a few schools have assigned holiday homework for the break, especially for Classes 10 and 12.
Will colleges and offices stay closed too?
Most colleges in the states that declared school holidays are closed as well, though university schedules vary and students should check their department notice. Government offices observing Dussehra as a gazetted holiday will remain closed on October 20. Banks follow their own holiday calendar, and in most states Dussehra is a bank holiday, so plan any branch visits accordingly.
FAQs
Are schools closed on October 19, 2026?
Yes, many schools across India are closed today for Durga Ashtami (Maha Ashtami). States including Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Jharkhand and Bihar have declared holidays, and several other schools are shut on their own announcement.
Are schools closed on October 20, 2026?
Yes. October 20 is Dussehra (Vijayadashami), which is a gazetted holiday, so most schools across the country will remain closed.
When will schools reopen after Dussehra?
It depends on your school. Many reopen on Wednesday, October 21, while schools on autumn break return later in the week. Check your school’s circular for the exact date.
Is Durga Ashtami a gazetted holiday in 2026?
No. Maha Ashtami on October 19 is not in the gazetted holidays list for 2026, which is why school closures for this day depend on state orders or individual school announcements.
Are colleges closed for Dussehra too?
Most colleges in the states with declared holidays are closed, but university and college schedules vary. Students should confirm with their own institution.
Two quiet days, then the school gates open again. Enjoy the festival, and do confirm your child’s reopening date before Wednesday morning.
