NEW DELHI: Raksha Bandhan, the festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters, will be observed across India on August 28, 2026. With families preparing for gatherings and many children planning visits to relatives, students and parents may be wondering whether schools will remain closed on the occasion. The answer depends on the state, school and education board. While schools in several northern and central Indian states have a holiday for Raksha Bandhan, schools in parts of southern and northeastern India are generally expected to function as usual.

Raksha Bandhan is widely celebrated across northern and central India. Schools in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttarakhand have holidays around the festival as per the academic calendars and holiday schedules cited in the input. The holiday applies to government and aided schools, while many private and missionary schools in these regions have also announced a holiday for students. However, parents should check their individual school’s notification, particularly where private institutions follow their own academic calendars.

Will Schools Be Open In South India? The situation is different in several southern states, where Raksha Bandhan does not have the same level of public celebration as in northern India. Schools in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are generally expected to remain open on August 28 unless the individual school has announced otherwise. There is no uniform mandatory public-school holiday for Raksha Bandhan across these states.

What About Schools In Northeast India? Students in Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland should also check with their respective schools, as Raksha Bandhan is generally not observed as a statewide school holiday in these states. Schools are expected to function as usual unless a local or institutional holiday has been announced.

Students studying in private schools affiliated with boards such as CBSE or ICSE should not assume that the festival automatically means a holiday. Private and international schools can have their own academic calendars. Some may list Raksha Bandhan as an optional holiday, while others may offer a half-day or organise cultural activities instead of declaring a full holiday. Kendriya Vidyalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas follow their respective centrally issued holiday calendars, so students should refer to the official calendar applicable to their institution.

Even where a state has announced a holiday, parents should check their child’s school-specific instructions. Holiday schedules can sometimes be revised through local administrative orders, including notifications issued by district authorities. Parents can check the holiday status through the school’s official app, website, diary or notice board, WhatsApp or other official communication groups, and any circulars issued by the school. Checking these sources in advance can prevent confusion, particularly for parents making travel or family-gathering plans.