Delhi schools and government offices to close on November 16 for Chhath Puja
The Delhi government has declared a public holiday on Monday for schools and various administrative bodies to observe the festival.
All government, government-aided, and recognised private schools in Delhi, as well as offices under the Directorate of Education (DoE), will be closed on Monday, November 16, 2026. According to reports from The Tribune and Business Standard, the closure is for Chhath Puja, also known as Pratihar Shashthi or Surya Shashthi.
The holiday follows a notification from the General Administration Department of the Delhi Government. Pradeep Tayal, Joint Secretary of the General Administration Department, released the order which applies to government offices, autonomous bodies, and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) under the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
The four-day Chhath Puja festival is scheduled from November 13 to November 16, 2026. In Bihar, the government has listed November 15 and 16 as gazetted holidays, while November 14 is a restricted holiday.
Other states have different schedules. Uttar Pradesh has scheduled holidays for November 15 and 16, while Jharkhand will observe holidays on November 15, 16, and 17. In West Bengal, schools are expected to be closed from November 16 to November 20 during the Jagadhatri Puja period.
Bank holidays for the festival depend on specific state calendars and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). While November 15 is a Sunday, customers are advised to check official banking notifications for November 14 and 16.