With the onset of the month of November, school children and their parents are eager to know when educational institutions will reopen following the Diwali celebrations. This year, Diwali falls on a Sunday, November 8, creating some confusion among families over whether schools will resume classes on Monday, November 9, or if festive closures will be extended further. School holiday calendars across different states of the country do not follow a uniform pattern. While Gujarat has outlined a total break of 21 days running from November 5 to November 25, several other states have scheduled holidays ranging from just a couple of days to longer durations. Rajasthan and Bihar are also lined up for extended breaks, while Govardhan Puja, Bhai Dooj, Chhath Puja, and Guru Nanak Jayanti could trigger additional closures throughout November.
Will Schools Reopen on Monday Following Diwali?
Diwali is scheduled for November 8, 2026, which is a Sunday, meaning that schools will already observe a regular weekly day off on this date. Consequently, the main query among students and parents concerns Monday, November 9. Several states traditionally grant a holiday for Govardhan Puja on the day after Diwali, while certain regions have pre-scheduled mid-term breaks. States like Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh report multiple days off around the festival period, though the exact academic calendar varies widely between different states and individual institutions.
Gujarat Schools Report a 21-Day Long Vacation Schedule
The longest holiday schedule for November has been outlined for the state of Gujarat, where educational institutions are slated to remain closed from November 5 to November 25, 2026. This layout provides students with a cumulative 21-day break, although the exact resumption of regular classes will be determined in accordance with local school calendars and administrative directives.
Mid-Term and Festival Breaks in Rajasthan and Bihar
Schools in Rajasthan are observing a mid-term break starting from November 4 through November 15, with classes expected to resume on November 16. This timeline coincides with Diwali, Govardhan Puja, and Bhai Dooj, granting students the dual advantage of festive celebrations alongside their mid-term holidays. Meanwhile, government schools in Bihar have scheduled closures from November 7 to November 17, giving students a continuous 11-day break before classes restart on November 18. Given the massive observance of Chhath Puja alongside Diwali in Bihar, where evening offerings fall on November 15 and morning offerings on November 16, an extended holiday period has been implemented.
Variations in Maharashtra, Goa, and Chhattisgarh Schedules
School vacation timelines in Maharashtra differ depending on the specific city and school category. Mumbai reports school closures from November 5 to November 23 with reopening on November 25, whereas Pune has scheduled a break from November 5 to November 18 with classes resuming on November 19. Certain areas have marked mid-term breaks from November 2 to November 14, pointing toward a restart date of November 16. Students across Mumbai, Pune, and other urban centres are advised to rely strictly on official notifications issued by their respective institutions. In Goa, schools are slated to remain shut from November 2 to November 21, while Chhattisgarh has announced closures from November 6 to November 11, with normal functioning resuming on November 12.
Holiday Status Across Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, and Other States
In Uttar Pradesh, school holidays for Diwali are marked for November 8 and November 9, accompanied by additional closures around November 11 for Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj. Delhi has scheduled a holiday for November 11, while Haryana reports school closures on November 9. West Bengal schools will remain on break until November 12. Assam has scheduled closures on November 8 and November 11, Odisha has marked holidays on November 8, 18, and 24, and Jharkhand has combined Diwali closures on November 8, 9, and 11 with a dedicated Chhath Puja break from November 13 to November 16, after which classes will resume based on local guidelines.
