Odisha Schools to Remain Closed from October 20 to 29 for Durga Puja

Schools in Odisha will remain shut from October 20 to October 29 due to the Durga Puja, the state government has announced. The School and Mass Education department released a notice about the upcoming Dussehra festival, asking the District Education Officers (DEOs) and Block Education Officers (BEOs) to take the required steps related to this festival. Schools will reopen on October 30.

The Directorate of Secondary Education and the Directorate of Elementary Education have also announced that there will be Durga Puja vacations. During this time, all elementary and secondary schools in Odisha will be closed from October 20 to 29, which includes two Sundays.

Additionally, the government had announced a school holiday on October 14, due to Mahalaya. Mahalaya is a special day because it signifies the start of Durga Puja, a significant festival. People in states like Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and Tripura celebrate this beginning by performing rituals dedicated to Goddess Durga.

Besides the scheduled school holidays in Odisha, schools and colleges in Telangana will be closed for 13 days because of the Dasara Holidays. The state government has decided to shut down government and private educational institutions, banks, and other organizations during this period since Dussehra holds great significance in Telangana. Schools will commence the Dussehra Holidays this year on October 14. The holidays will continue until October 25. Private and government schools and colleges will resume regular classes on October 26, marking the conclusion of this extended Dussehra break. According to this year’s academic calendar, schools will be operational for 229 days.

Furthermore, junior colleges will be closed for seven days, according to a notification issued by the Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education (TSBIE). Dussehra holidays have been announced by the state government for all junior colleges from October 19 to 25. The board ordered that all junior colleges adhere to the holiday schedule and reopen on October 26.