Holi 2026 will bring a school and bank holiday across Maharashtra on March 3, as the state gears up to celebrate the festival of colours with traditional enthusiasm. The festival is marked by families gathering to play with colours, exchange festive delicacies such as gujiya, and participate in community celebrations. Amid nationwide confusion over whether Holi falls on March 3 or March 4 in different regions, authorities have clarified dates for each state. In Maharashtra, educational institutions are expected to remain shut on March 3 in observance of the festival. Banks in the state will also remain closed on March 3 under the Reserve Bank of India’s notified holiday list for Holi, while essential services will continue to function as usual.
Across India, state governments have announced varying holiday schedules based on local observance. Holi will be celebrated on March 3 in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam, Telangana, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Goa, Jharkhand, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, and schools in these states are likely to remain closed on that day. Meanwhile, Bihar schools will remain shut on both March 3 and March 4, according to the state’s academic calendar. In Uttar Pradesh, the government has declared a three-day holiday from March 2 to March 4, covering government offices and educational institutions, with February 28, 2026 designated as a working Saturday and March 3 marked as a holiday for employees.
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Holi will be observed on March 4 in Gujarat, Mizoram, Odisha, Chandigarh, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya and Himachal Pradesh, where schools will stay closed on the festival day. In Delhi, most schools are currently conducting examinations, and no exams will take place on Holi. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has also decided not to schedule any board examinations on March 4. Parents and students are advised to verify holiday details with their respective institutions, as individual schools are expected to issue official circulars confirming the final break schedule.