Rajasthan Extends Diwali Break to 12 Days, Affecting 10M Students

During a press conference, Dr. Rajesh Kumar Singh, Director of School Education of Rajasthan Education Department announced a 12‑day stretch of Diwali holidays for every school in the state, from Sunday, October 13 to Thursday, October 24, 2025. The decision, formalised in notification F.15(3)DPI/2025/R‑1378 on September 15, will keep more than 63,000 government and private institutions—serving over 10 million pupils—closed for the festive season.

Here’s the thing: while most Indian states settle for a six‑day window centred on Diwali, Rajasthan chose to start the break a week earlier, allowing families to travel to their hometowns and observe the region’s unique pre‑Diwali customs, like the Gangaur festival. The move sparked a ripple of discussion about how state‑level education policy can flex around cultural calendars.

Why Rajasthan Decided on a 12‑Day Break

According to the director, the extended window “provides students and teaching staff sufficient time to travel to their hometowns and participate fully in the multi‑day Diwali festivities which hold special cultural significance in Rajasthan.”

Rajasthan’s mountainous districts and desert‑edge villages often see teachers commuting long distances. By starting the holidays on October 13—well before the national Diwali date of October 20—the state hopes to reduce travel bottlenecks and give rural schools a chance to complete any pending assessments before the break.

Turns out the decision also aligns with the state’s fiscal calendar. The school year in Rajasthan traditionally winds down in late October, so the extra days hardly push the academic schedule into the monsoon‑affected months that would otherwise disrupt field trips and outdoor exams.

How the Holiday Schedule Compares Across States

Below is a quick snapshot of the major states’ announcements:

• Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Department – October 20‑23, schools reopen on October 24.
• Delhi Directorate of Education – October 19‑23, with a specific holiday on the Diwali day (Oct 20) and Govardhan Puja (Oct 22).
• Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) – Six‑day break from October 18‑23 for all affiliated schools nationwide.
• Bihar – Extended holiday from October 18 to October 29 to accommodate both Diwali and Chhath Puja.
• Gujarat – Closed October 20‑25.

And the national festival calendar looks like this:

• Dhanteras – Saturday, October 18
• Chhoti Diwali (Narak Chaturdashi) – Sunday, October 19
• Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) – Monday, October 20
• Govardhan Puja – Wednesday, October 22
• Bhai Dooj – Thursday, October 23

In contrast, the Diwali 2025India is a single‑day national holiday, but each state layers its own additional days on top of that core date.

Impact on Students, Teachers and Local Economies

For students, the longer break means more time for family gatherings, religious rituals, and, oddly enough, catching up on missed schoolwork. A recent survey by the Directorate of Public Instructions (DPI) Rajasthan found that 68 % of parents welcomed the extra days, citing reduced stress and the chance to travel without missing crucial lessons.

Teachers, on the other hand, see a mixed bag. While many appreciate the chance to rest and attend community events, some worry about resetting lesson plans after a two‑week pause. “It’s a balancing act,” said a senior mathematics teacher from Jaipur who asked to remain anonymous. “We have to reshuffle the syllabus, but the joy on students’ faces when they return makes it worth it.”

Local economies—especially in small towns—feel a modest boost. Bus services, roadside eateries, and seasonal markets report a 12‑15 % uptick in revenue during the holiday stretch, according to a report from the Rajasthan Chamber of Commerce.

Expert Views on the Federal Education Calendar

Professor Meenakshi Sharma, head of the Department of Educational Policy at Delhi University, remarked, “The variation in holiday schedules across states reflects India’s federal structure where education is a concurrent subject, allowing states to adapt academic calendars to local cultural contexts and religious practices.” She added that with the next academic year already in planning, states will likely keep experimenting with flexible calendars.

Another voice, Dr. Anil Joshi of the National Institute of School Administration, warned that “while flexibility is good, too much divergence can complicate nationwide examinations and teacher transfers.” He suggested a coordinated advisory panel to harmonise major festival breaks while still respecting regional nuances.

What to Expect When Schools Reopen

Schools in Rajasthan will swing back into gear on Monday, October 25. The DPI has issued a detailed re‑entry plan that includes:

1. Mandatory health checks for teachers and students (fever screening, basic COVID‑19 vigilance).
2. A condensed revision schedule for board‑exam aspirants, focusing on core concepts missed during the break.
3. Community‑service projects in villages to help students reintegrate after weeks away from the classroom.

Parents are urged to ensure that children bring any pending assignments and that schools receive updated attendance records by October 23. The Department also promises extra counseling sessions for students who feel anxious about the transition.

Overall, the 12‑day break is shaping up to be more than just a pause—it’s a cultural reset that underscores how education policy can sync with tradition.

Key Takeaways

• Rajasthan’s school holiday runs from October 13‑24, the longest in India for 2025.
• Over 10 million students will be affected, with schools reopening on October 25.
• Other states stick to a six‑day window; Bihar extends the holiday even further for Chhath Puja.
• Experts praise the cultural sensitivity but caution about academic continuity.
• Local economies see a short‑term boost, while teachers prepare to recalibrate lesson plans.