Schools in Himachal Pradesh are closed for a five-day Diwali break from Friday, 6 November to Tuesday, 10 November 2026. The state education department has notified the break for government and recognised schools, so that students and teachers can travel home for the Diwali festivities.

Dhanteras, which marks the start of the Diwali festival week, falls on Friday, 6 November, and Diwali itself is on Sunday, 8 November. Schools reopen on Wednesday, 11 November.

Himachal school holidays in November 2026

DateDayOccasion
6 to 10 November 2026Friday to TuesdayDiwali festival break (5 days)
8 November 2026SundayDiwali (Deepavali) — gazetted holiday
10 November 2026TuesdayGovardhan Puja (within the break)
11 November 2026WednesdayBhai Dooj
24 November 2026TuesdayGuru Nanak Jayanti and Kartik Purnima

Govardhan Puja on 10 November and Bhai Dooj on 11 November fall around the same week. Bhai Dooj, on 11 November, is a school working day unless the school’s local calendar says otherwise.

The Diwali week at a glance

The break covers the whole Diwali festival week. Dhanteras falls on Friday, 6 November, the day the break begins, and is the traditional day for buying gold and silver. Choti Diwali is on Saturday, 7 November, and the main Lakshmi Puja is on Sunday, 8 November, with the evening muhurat from about 5:54 PM to 7:50 PM in New Delhi. Govardhan Puja is on Monday, 10 November, the last day of the break, and Bhai Dooj is on Tuesday, 11 November, the day schools reopen.

For families, this means the five-day break covers every festival day except Bhai Dooj, so children can celebrate the full week at home without missing school.

What parents and students should know

  • The break applies to government and recognised schools across Himachal Pradesh. Private schools generally follow the same calendar, but parents should confirm with their child’s school, as small differences in the local calendar are possible.
  • Plan travel early. With the break starting on Dhanteras itself, buses and trains are crowded. HRTC is running 266 special buses from Delhi, Chandigarh and Baddi on 6 and 7 November, and special trains are running for Diwali and Chhath.
  • Weather will stay dry through the break. The Meteorological Department has forecast clear weather with bright sunshine until 9 November, with rain and snow likely in the higher reaches on 10 and 11 November. Una recorded 34.2°C on 3 November, the highest November temperature there in recent years, so afternoons in the low hills will feel hot.
  • The next holiday after Diwali is 24 November, for Guru Nanak Jayanti and Kartik Purnima.

The five-day break is one of the longest school holidays of the year in Himachal Pradesh, and it comes at the same time as the Chhath Puja holidays in neighbouring states. Students returning to school on 11 November should check with their school for any change in timings as winter sets in.

Source: Jagran Josh reports on the Himachal Pradesh school holiday calendar for November 2026. Confirm the exact dates with your school, as district-level calendars can differ slightly.

Related articles on HimachalGovt