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In 2026, Basant Panchami will be celebrated on January 23. On this occasion, a holiday has been declared for schools in various states across the country.
School holidays are declared based on orders from the local administration or district magistrate. (File Photo)
The festival of Basant Panchami is celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country. According to the Hindu calendar, Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of learning, is worshipped on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Magh. In 2026, Basant Panchami will be celebrated on January 23. On this occasion, a holiday has been declared for schools and educational institutions in various states across the country.
Vasant Panchami is not only religiously significant, but it also marks the arrival of spring. This day holds special significance in northern and eastern Indian states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Haryana. Governments in many states have decided to close schools to ensure the convenience of students and their participation in the cultural festival.
Find out in which states Vasant Panchami is celebrated and Saraswati Puja is likely to be a holiday.
Holiday status in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh:
Vasant Panchami is celebrated as a major festival in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. According to the calendars of the Uttar Pradesh Board of Secondary Education and the Bihar Education Department, January 23, 2026, will be a public holiday in all government and aided schools in the state. Many private schools have also announced half-day or full holidays following the Saraswati Puja celebrations. Students wear yellow clothes on this day to worship Goddess Saraswati.
Two days of celebration in West Bengal:
Saraswati Puja (Vasant Panchami) is celebrated with great enthusiasm in West Bengal. In many districts, schools and colleges have been declared a two-day public holiday. Saraswati Puja is considered a students’ festival in Bengal, and therefore, educational institutions remain completely closed on this day. In Kolkata and other cities, grand pandals are decorated, where students gather to offer prayers. Furthermore, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has postponed tomorrow’s JEE Main exam in West Bengal, taking Saraswati Puja into account.
Haryana and Punjab: Kite flying and school holiday
Kite flying is a long-standing tradition in Haryana and Punjab on Vasant Panchami. The Haryana government has declared this day an official holiday in the academic calendar. Both government schools and private institutions have declared a holiday for Saraswati Puja. Local holidays have also been declared in several districts of Punjab, allowing schoolchildren to enjoy this cultural festival without any hassle.
Will there be a holiday in all states?
It’s important to note that the decision to declare a holiday on Vasant Panchami is at the discretion of state governments. While South Indian states generally don’t have a public holiday on this day, some private schools there do organize events to commemorate Saraswati Puja. Even in states like Delhi and Rajasthan, most government schools observe either a half-day or a full holiday, depending on the calendar.
Holidays are declared based on orders from the local administration or district magistrate. Therefore, parents are advised to check the holiday status with their child’s school.
January 22, 2026, 12:12 IST
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