Schools, colleges to get up to 16 days of Durga Puja holidays

Educational institution across the country are set for extended breaks around Durga Puja this year, with holidays combined with weekly weekends giving some institutions up to 16 consecutive days off.

According to the revised 2026 academic calendar for government and non-government secondary and lower-secondary schools, the Durga Puja holiday is scheduled for October 18-22. With weekly holidays on October 16 and 17, followed by another weekend on October 23-24 and Lakshmi Puja on October 25, schools could remain closed for 10 straight days from October 16 to 25.

The schedule may be adjusted if necessary by the authorities.

The break will be longer for college students. The secondary and higher education authorities have scheduled a 12-day holiday from October 18 to 29 for Durga Puja, Vijaya Dashami, Prabarana Purnima and Lakshmi Puja. With the two weekends before and after the holiday period, colleges could remain closed for 16 consecutive days, from October 16 to 31.

For government and non-government Ebtedayee madrasas, the official holiday for Durga Puja is scheduled for October 20-22 under the 2026 academic calendar.

Government employees will also get an extended break around the festival, with the official holiday schedule covering the main Puja holidays and an additional day under an executive order.

Universities, however, may follow different schedules as they operate under their own academic calendars. Individual universities will announce their holiday, examination, class and residential-hall schedules separately.