Durga Puja: No exams at high schools, colleges, and universities from Sept 28-Oct 9

Puja holidays at schools and colleges are set to begin on Sept 28

The Ministry of Education has instructed that no examinations be scheduled at high schools, colleges, or universities from Sept 28 to Oct 9 because of the Durga Puja, the most important annual festival for Bengali Hindus.

The ministry’s Secondary and Higher Education Division (SHED) sent the instructions to the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) on Wednesday.

The order said that the SHED has prepared a list of annual holidays for educational institutions for the year 2025 (1431-1432 Bengali New Year). The list includes 12 days of vacation leave from Sept 28 to Oct 9 for Durga Puja, Bijoy Dashami, Fateha-e-Yazdaham, Prabarana Purnima and Lakshmi Puja.

To celebrate these occasions in a festive atmosphere and with due solemnity, the order has directed the UGC and DSHE to not schedule any examination days at all educational institutions for 12 days from Sept 28 to Oct 9, the notice said.

This year, according to the calendar, Durga Puja’s Mahapanchami will be on Sept 27, followed by Mahasashtami on Sept 28, Mahasaptami on Sept 29, Mahaashtami on Sept 30, Mahanabami on Oct 1, and Mahadashami on Oct 2. Dashami is a public holiday. Ahead of these dates, Mahalaya was on Sept 21 and the Pratipada Tithi of the Durga started from Sept 22.

This time, the Durga Puja will be held in 33,576 pavilions across the country. Of these, 255 will be in the Dhaka Metropolitan area.

Puja holidays will start at educational institutions from the day of Mahashastami on Sept 28. According to the holiday list and calendar for government and private secondary and lower secondary schools issued by the Ministry of Education, holidays will also start at these institutions from Sept 28. These schools will be closed for eight days. Classes will resume from Oct 8.

According to the academic calendar and holiday list for government and private colleges, the holidays will also begin on Sept 28. The colleges will be closed for 10 days. Since Oct 10-11 fall on the weekend, classes at colleges will resume on Oct 12.