School Holiday on 13 January 2026: Schools Closed Today in THESE States for Winter Vacation and Festivals

School Holiday January 13, 2026: January 13, 2026 is a school holiday in most parts of the country, especially across North India, where schools are closed due to the prevailing severe cold wave conditions. The date is also important because it coincides with major festivals such as Lohri and the beginning of the Pongal celebrations, giving students an extended festive and winter break.

Parents and students are advised to check school-specific circulars, as holiday duration and revised timings vary state-wise and district-wise. Below is the detailed update.

Why schools are closed on January 13, 2026?

Schools across several states are closed on January 13, 2026 due to a combination of extreme weather conditions and major regional festivals. The date coincides with peak winter in North India as well as important cultural celebrations, leading many state administrations to extend holidays and revise school schedules.

Key reasons:

• Intense cold wave across North India

• Lohri festival celebrations in North India

• Beginning of Pongal festival in Tamil Nadu

• Already ongoing winter vacations extended in many places

Lohri School Holiday on January 13, 2026

Lohri is a popular Punjabi festival, primarily celebrated in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi NCR, Chandigarh, and parts of Himachal & Jammu. Although Lohri is not a gazetted national holiday, many schools remain closed because:

• Winter vacations are already ongoing

• Cold wave conditions intensified

• State administrations have revised schedules

Therefore, schools in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi-NCR will remain closed on January 13, 2026.

Also Check Lohri, Pongal and Makar Sankranti School Holidays 2026: Check State-wise Update

Rajasthan: District-wise school closures due to cold wave

Rajasthan continues to face a severe cold wave, prompting local administrations to extend winter holidays and modify school timings across multiple districts. Here’s the district-wise update on school closures and revised schedules:

Holidays declared / extended in these districts:

• Jaipur: Pre-primary to Class 5 holiday on Jan 12–13

• Jaisalmer: Nursery–8th closed Jan 12–14; Classes 9–12 timing 10 AM–4 PM

• Nagaur: Pre-primary–5th closed Jan 12–13

• Dausa: Up to Class 8 holiday Jan 12

• Sikar: Class 1–5 holiday; revised timings for 6–12

• Jalore: Pre-primary–5th closed Jan 12–14

• Bharatpur: Up to Class 5 holiday Jan 12–13

• Deeg: Class 1–8 holiday Jan 12

• Hanumangarh: Nursery–8th closed Jan 12; Lohri holiday Jan 13, reopen Jan 14

• Jhunjhunu: Class 1–8 holiday till Jan 13

• Barmer: Up to Class 8 holiday Jan 12

• Ajmer: Timings changed to 10 AM–4 PM

• Bikaner: 10 AM–4 PM schedule till further notice

Uttar Pradesh: Schools closed till January 13, 2026 in many districts

In Agra and several adjoining districts, the severe cold has significantly affected normal life, leading authorities to order school closures. Schools up to Class 12 have been instructed to remain closed till January 13, 2026, although pre-board and practical examination preparations will continue as scheduled.

Many districts, including Noida and Ghaziabad, have also announced holidays, with some schools conducting online classes to maintain academic continuity. Board-class students may still attend offline classes, but only under revised and shortened winter timings.

Check UP Shool Winter Vacation 2026 Updates: Extended Holiday Dates & Revised Timings

Tamil Nadu School Pongal Holidays 2026

Tamil Nadu schools are observing Pongal festival holidays in January 2026, offering students and families an extended festive break. According to the official holiday calendar and government announcements, schools across the state will remain closed for Pongal celebrations from January 15 to January 17, 2026. Many schools may also observe January 14 as a holiday or hold half-day sessions as Bhogi preparations begin ahead of the main festivities.

Important Pongal Festival Dates & School Holiday Details

• January 14, 2026 — Bhogi Pongal (Bhogi Pandigai): Many schools may remain closed or operate on half-day sessions as families prepare for the festival.

• January 15, 2026 — Thai Pongal: Schools will be fully closed in observance of the main Pongal day.

• January 16, 2026 — Mattu Pongal / Thiruvalluvar Day: School holiday observed to celebrate cattle and cultural traditions.

• January 17, 2026 — Kaanum Pongal / Uzhavar Thirunal: Holiday observed; with January 18 falling on a Sunday, many students enjoy an extended festive break.

January 13 School Holiday Update for other States and UTs

Check below the latest school holiday and winter vacation update for January 2026 for other states and union territories. The holidays have been declared due to severe cold wave conditions, fog, and regional festivals such as Lohri and Makar Sankranti.

Delhi & NCR: Winter vacation likely extended till 15 January

Schools in Delhi and the surrounding NCR region usually observe winter break in early January. However, due to the prevailing severe cold wave, the vacation is likely to be extended till Lohri on January 13, and in many government schools possibly till January 15.

During this period, several schools are continuing academic work through online classes to cover the syllabus, while board-class students may attend offline classes with revised and shortened timings.

Chandigarh: Winter vacation extended till January 13, 2026

In view of the intense cold conditions, the UT administration has extended the winter vacation in Chandigarh schools and revised school timings. Schools will remain closed till January 13, 2026, with further decisions to be taken depending on weather conditions.

Jharkhand School Holidays on 13 January 2026

The Jharkhand School Education Department has announced school holidays for students up to Class 6 due to severe cold weather conditions. As per official updates based on IMD reports, schools will remain closed till 14 January 2026. Further decision on reopening will depend on weather improvement.

Madhya Pradesh School Update: Revised Timings in Bhopal

In Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, the district education authority has not declared holidays but has changed school timings due to cold weather. All schools have been instructed to begin classes after 9:30 AM for students from Nursery to Class 8.

Andhra Pradesh School Holidays for Sankranti Festival

The Sankranti festival holidays are being observed across Andhra Pradesh. Schools have been closed since 10 January and will remain shut till 18 January 2026. Regular classes are scheduled to resume from 19 January 2026.

Telangana School Holidays for Sankranti Festival

Schools across Telangana are currently observing Sankranti holidays. As per the official academic calendar, schools will remain closed till 16 January 2026. Classes will reopen from 17 January 2026.

As cold wave conditions and festive schedules continue to evolve, it is important for parents and students to stay updated through school websites, official notifications, and district-level advisories to avoid confusion about reopening dates.

Also Check India School Holidays List in 2026