Patna. Schools across India have announced holidays for Dussehra and Durga Puja 2026, including Bihar and several other states. The month of October is special for students as Vijaya Dashami falls on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.

In Bihar, Dussehra holidays are scheduled from October 17 to October 21. This period will allow students to celebrate the festival and spend time with their families. However, holiday calendars may vary across different schools, so students and parents are advised to confirm the exact dates with their respective institutions.

Jharkhand has announced a three-day holiday for Durga Puja and Dussehra. According to the state's school holiday calendar, there will be holidays on October 19 for Maha Ashtami, and October 20 for Maha Navami and Vijaya Dashami. Additionally, schools will remain closed on October 21, providing students with a continuous three-day break.

In Uttar Pradesh, students will enjoy an eight-day continuous holiday for Dussehra. The available calendar indicates that the autumn break is scheduled from October 18 to October 25. Vijaya Dashami also falls on October 20 during this period. As per the schedule, schools are expected to reopen on Monday, October 26.

School holidays in Delhi-NCR will be determined according to the holiday calendars of the education department and respective institutions. The Delhi Directorate of Education's 2026 calendar includes a holiday on October 20 for Vijaya Dashami. Closures on other days will depend on the individual school's calendar.

West Bengal, where Durga Puja is a major festival, observes extended holidays during this period. The West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education's calendar specifies holidays from October 15 to October 26, 2026.

Several South Indian states will also observe school closures for Dussehra and Durga Puja. Telangana has a 13-day holiday from October 10 to October 22, Andhra Pradesh from October 10 to October 21, and some schools in Karnataka have Dussehra holidays from October 3 to October 21. Tamil Nadu and Kerala will also have school closures on October 19, 20, and 21 for various festivals.

Odisha's schools and colleges will be closed from October 17 to October 26, 2026, while Rajasthan's government schools will have Dussehra holidays from October 18 to October 25 as per the Shivira Panchang. Parents are advised to check their respective school's official holiday calendars for precise dates.