Students in several parts of India will get a day off on Friday, September 25, but there is no single nationwide reason for the closure. In some states, the holiday is linked to Anant Chaturdashi and Ganesh Visarjan, while certain districts have announced closures because of heavy rain and weather warnings.
Schools across Maharashtra are scheduled to remain closed on September 25 for Anant Chaturdashi/Ganesh Visarjan. The day marks the culmination of the 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, when devotees traditionally take idols of Lord Ganesha for immersion. Maharashtra has one of the country’s largest Ganesh festival celebrations, making the day significant for public processions and local festivities.
Students in Gujarat will also have a holiday on September 25 for Anant Chaturdashi/Ganesh Visarjan. The Gujarat Education Department’s September 2026 holiday calendar lists September 25 as a festival holiday. The day marks the conclusion of Ganeshotsav and is associated with immersion ceremonies.
Bihar is another state where September 25 is listed as a school holiday for Anant Chaturdashi. The festival falls on the 14th day of the bright half of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada. In different parts of India, the occasion is associated with Anant Chaturdashi observances and, in places where Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated, the final immersion of Ganesha idols.
In Telangana, the September 25 closure has a particularly strong connection with Ganesh idol immersion. The state government has declared a holiday for schools and colleges in Hyderabad, Secunderabad and adjoining urban areas including Ranga Reddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri because of the large Ganesh immersion processions. The closure is intended to facilitate the major public event and help manage movement and safety during the celebrations.
In Odisha, some school closures on September 25 are not festival-related at all. In Malkangiri district of Odisha, schools and Anganwadi centres have been ordered to remain closed through September 25 because of heavy rainfall and weather warnings linked to the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal. Authorities have taken the precautionary step amid forecasts of very heavy rainfall and adverse weather conditions. Other Odisha districts have also faced temporary school closures during the week because of the weather situation, so students should follow their district administration’s latest order.
Parts of Andhra Pradesh have also been affected by the weather system, with local administrations monitoring rainfall and issuing precautionary measures in vulnerable areas. However, the closure is not a blanket September 25 holiday for all schools across Andhra Pradesh. Students should check the order issued by their district administration or individual school before treating Friday as a holiday.
Note: Parents and students should confirm the September 25 holiday with their school or the relevant state/district education authority, particularly in areas affected by weather alerts.
