Maharashtra schools get 13-day Diwali vacation from November 2, reopen November 16
Representative image: ArtTower / Pixabay
Maharashtra schools will have a 13-day Diwali vacation from November 2 to 14, 2026, and reopen on November 16 for the second semester.
What Happened
Schools across Maharashtra will close for a 13-day Diwali vacation from Monday, November 2, to Saturday, November 14, 2026, and reopen on Monday, November 16, for the start of the second semester, according to a circular from the state's school education department reported this week. The schedule is part of the academic calendar for the 2026-27 session. It applies to recognised primary, secondary and higher secondary schools, including junior colleges that teach Classes 11 and 12, and to private and aided institutions.
Key Facts
- Diwali vacation: Monday, November 2, to Saturday, November 14, 2026, a total of 13 days.
- Schools reopen on Monday, November 16, 2026, when the second semester begins.
- The dates come from a circular of the state's school education department, issued as part of the 2026-27 academic calendar, according to reports.
- The schedule covers recognised primary, secondary and higher secondary schools, junior colleges with Classes 11 and 12, and private and aided schools.
- Schools may not change the fixed holiday schedule on their own; any change for local festivals needs prior permission from the education authorities, the reports say.
- The break covers Dhanteras on November 6 and Diwali on November 8; the state's festival list places Diwali Padwa (Balipratipada) on November 10 and Bhaubij on November 11.
Why It Matters
For families, the most useful part of the circular is certainty. Diwali vacation dates often vary from school to school, and parents planning travel to their home towns, or booking trains in a heavy festival season, need to know early when children will be free. A single state-wide schedule announced in October gives them that, and the bar on schools changing the dates on their own means the calendar should hold.
For schools, the vacation marks the formal end of the first semester. The second term begins on November 16. For students in Classes 10 and 12, that leaves about three months before the state board's written examinations, which begin in February 2027 under the board's provisional schedule: February 8 for the HSC (Class 12) and February 15 for the SSC (Class 10).
The rule on local adjustments is also worth noting. Some schools prefer to shift holidays to match local festivals such as Ganeshotsav or Christmas, which can matter a great deal in particular districts. The circular does not ban such changes outright, but it puts the decision with the education authorities, so that schools in the same area do not end up with very different calendars and the total number of teaching days is protected.
Families with children in schools affiliated to central boards should check their own school's notice, since those schools may follow their own calendars.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vacation starts | Monday, November 2, 2026 |
| Vacation ends | Saturday, November 14, 2026 |
| Schools reopen | Monday, November 16, 2026 (second semester) |
| Covered | Primary, secondary, higher secondary schools; junior colleges; private and aided schools |
| Changes | Only with prior permission from education authorities |
Impact
Short-term: Students in Maharashtra get almost two weeks off over Diwali, and parents can plan travel and childcare around fixed dates.
Long-term: A fixed state-wide calendar with controlled exceptions helps protect teaching time across the year and makes the semester system more predictable for schools, students and teachers.
Who is affected: School students and junior college students across Maharashtra, their parents, teachers and school managements, and transport services that see heavy demand in the festival season.
Key Takeaway
Maharashtra's schools will be on Diwali vacation from November 2 to 14, 2026, and reopen on November 16 for the second semester, under a state education department circular.
Questions and Answers
When is the Diwali vacation for Maharashtra schools in 2026?
The Diwali vacation runs from Monday, November 2, to Saturday, November 14, 2026, a total of 13 days, according to the state school education department's circular as reported.
When do Maharashtra schools reopen after Diwali 2026?
Schools reopen on Monday, November 16, 2026, which is also the start of the second semester.
Does the Diwali holiday schedule apply to junior colleges?
Yes. The reports say the schedule covers recognised primary, secondary and higher secondary schools, including junior colleges that teach Classes 11 and 12, as well as private and aided schools.
Can a school change its Diwali holiday dates?
Not on its own. Schools that want to adjust dates for local festivals must get prior permission from the education authorities, according to the circular as reported.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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Reported, fact-checked and published by the Peepals Global Editorial Team.
