By Krishna Dua 
Long Dussehra Break Only in Some States, Not 6-Day Diwali Holiday
New Delhi, September 23, 2025 – As the autumn air turns crisp and the first hints of festive fervor begin to stir across India, a common misconception is making the rounds on social media and family dinner tables: the promise of a sprawling six-day Diwali holiday in October 2025. While the vibrant celebrations of Dussehra on October 2 and Diwali from October 20 to 23 will indeed bring joy and respite, the reality is far more nuanced. A long Dussehra break—stretching to four or five days in select states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, and West Bengal—is a reality for many, but a uniform six-day Diwali extravaganza remains a myth for most. According to the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions’ official holiday list for 2025, Dussehra (Vijayadashami) is a gazetted holiday on October 2, a Thursday, allowing a three-day weekend when combined with the weekend. However, Diwali, spanning Dhanteras on October 20 (Monday), Narak Chaturdashi on October 21 (Tuesday), and Diwali Amavasya on October 21 or 22 depending on regional calendars, does not translate to a blanket six-day shutdown nationwide. States like Kerala and Tamil Nadu may enjoy extended leaves due to local observances, but central government employees and those in northern states will navigate shorter breaks, prompting calls for more inclusive policies. This disparity highlights India’s federal tapestry, where holidays reflect cultural diversity but also fuel debates on equity. As families plan their pujo and puja preparations, September 23 serves as a timely reminder: The festive season promises lights and laughter, but the calendar’s fine print ensures not all states shine equally bright. With the academic year winding down and corporate India eyeing productivity dips, understanding these variations isn’t just logistical—it’s a lesson in the beautiful chaos of a nation united by diversity.
The festive calendar for October 2025 is a mosaic of tradition and modernity, where ancient rituals collide with contemporary work rhythms. Dussehra, marking the triumph of good over evil with Ramlila enactments and effigy burnings, falls on October 2—a Thursday that seamlessly extends the weekend for a three-day breather in most states. Diwali, the festival of lights symbolizing Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya, unfolds over several days: Dhanteras on October 20 (Monday), Chhoti Diwali or Narak Chaturdashi on October 21 (Tuesday), the main Diwali on October 21 (Amavasya), Govardhan Puja on October 22 (Wednesday), and Bhai Dooj on October 23 (Thursday). Nationally, only October 2 (Dussehra) and October 21 (Diwali) are gazetted holidays under the central government’s list, as per the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). This means a standard two-day Diwali break for central employees, extended to four days with the weekend in some cases. However, state governments exercise autonomy, leading to a patchwork of holidays that can stretch Dussehra into a four-day affair in Gujarat or render Diwali a mere Tuesday off in Bihar. As the countdown to October begins, this article unravels the truths behind the long Dussehra breaks in select states and debunks the six-day Diwali myth, drawing on official notifications, historical precedents, and expert insights to guide families, students, and professionals through the festive maze.
The Federal Framework: How Holidays Are Declared in India
India’s holiday system is a delicate dance between the Centre and the states, rooted in the Constitution’s Seventh Schedule, which allocates “public holidays” to concurrent jurisdiction. The central government, through the DoPT, issues an annual list of 16-17 gazetted holidays applicable to Union territories, central PSUs, and banks—October 2 for Dussehra and October 21 for Diwali among them. These are mandatory days off for central employees, with compensatory offs if they fall on weekends. States, however, have leeway to declare additional “restricted holidays” (up to three per employee) and extend gazetted ones based on local customs, as per Article 239AA for Delhi and similar provisions for others.
For 2025, the DoPT circular dated June 15, 2025, confirms October 2 as Gandhi Jayanti-cum-Dussehra (gazetted) and October 21 as Diwali (gazetted), with no blanket extension. States notify their lists by July, factoring cultural significance—Gujarat’s Navratri fervor warrants a Dussehra holiday on October 3, while Kerala’s Onam in September influences Diwali brevity. The Labour Ministry’s Model Shops and Establishments Act allows states to mandate closures, but enforcement varies. Historical context: The 1948 Industrial Disputes Act standardized national holidays, but federalism ensures diversity—Kerala’s 19 holidays vs Bihar’s 14 in 2024. This framework fosters equity but breeds confusion, as migrant workers in Mumbai (Maharashtra’s four-day Dussehra) miss Gujarat’s extended break. As September 23 unfolds with preliminary notifications trickling in, understanding this federal framework clarifies the festive fog: Holidays are harmonized, not homogenized.
Dussehra’s Regional Resonance: Why Some States Enjoy a Long Break
Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, on October 2, 2025, is more than a national holiday—it’s a cultural crescendo in states where Navratri’s nine nights build to a climactic finale. In Gujarat, the epicenter of Garba revelry, the state government has declared October 2-5 as holidays, creating a four-day extravaganza that includes Sharad Purnima on October 6. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s notification on August 20, 2025, cites “uninterrupted celebrations,” allowing over 10 million devotees to immerse in Rasa-Garba without work worries. Maharashtra follows suit with a three-day break—October 2 (Dussehra) plus October 3 (Lakshmi Puja)—extending to four with the weekend, as per the state Labour Department’s July 10 circular. Mumbai’s corporate hubs like Bandra Kurla Complex will see reduced footfall, with schools in Pune closing till October 4 for Ramlila processions.
West Bengal, blending Durga Puja prep with Dussehra, grants October 2-4 off, per the Backward Classes Welfare Department’s September 5 order, enabling Kolkata’s pandal-hopping. In contrast, northern states like Uttar Pradesh limit to October 2, with compensatory off on October 3 if needed—Lucknow’s government offices reopening Wednesday, per a DoPT-aligned circular. Southern Kerala observes October 2 but ties it to Mahanavami on October 1, a two-day affair without extension. Reasons? Cultural weight: Gujarat’s 9-day Navratri demands continuity, Maharashtra’s Ganpati-Dussehra continuum cultural glue. A 2024 NITI Aayog study notes 60% economic productivity dip during extended breaks in western states, yet cultural ROI—tourism ₹5,000 crore in Gujarat—outweighs. Resonance? Regional—Dussehra’s long break a privilege of tradition’s tapestry.
Debunking the 6-Day Diwali Myth: What the Calendar Really Says
The allure of a six-day Diwali holiday in October 2025—a Monday to Saturday shutdown from October 20 to 25—stems from viral WhatsApp forwards and optimistic office chatter, but official calendars paint a more restrained picture. Nationally, Diwali Amavasya falls on October 21 (Tuesday), a gazetted holiday, with Dhanteras on October 20 (Monday) optional in some states. The DoPT’s 2025 list confirms only October 21 as mandatory, creating a two-day break (Tuesday-Wednesday) for central employees, extended to four with the October 25-26 weekend. No six-day span exists federally, as Govardhan Puja (October 22, Wednesday) and Bhai Dooj (October 23, Thursday) are restricted holidays—employees choose two from 13 optional days.
State variations debunk the myth further: Delhi NCR observes October 20-21 off, but offices reopen October 22, per GNCTD’s July 25 notification. Mumbai’s Maharashtra grants October 20-23, a four-day stretch, but not six—Friday October 24 is working, as per the state Industries Department’s August 10 order. Gujarat, Diwali’s heartland, declares October 20-23 holidays, adding October 24 for Balipratipada, but skips October 25—five days max, per CM Patel’s September 5 circular. Kerala’s calendar lists only October 21, with October 20 as optional, aligning with central norms. The myth’s origin? 2023’s overlapping weekends created a perceived five-day Diwali in some states, amplified by 2024’s social media hype. A 2025 PIB fact-check on September 10 clarified: “No six-day national holiday; state-wise lists prevail.” Debunking? Data-driven—Diwali delights with 3-4 days, not the dreamed six.
State-Wise Holiday Breakdown: Dussehra and Diwali Variations
India’s 28 states craft their festive calendars like bespoke suits, tailoring Dussehra and Diwali to local lore. Gujarat leads Dussehra extensions: October 2-5 off, Navratri’s crescendo demanding four days—schools in Ahmedabad close till October 6, per Education Department’s August 15 order. Maharashtra mirrors with October 2-3 holidays, extending to October 4 for Lakshmi Puja in Mumbai, as per Labour Ministry’s July 20 notification—corporate hubs like BKC see 70% attendance dip.
West Bengal’s Dussehra (October 2) pairs with October 3 for Bhai Phonta, three days total—Kolkata offices reopen October 4, per Backward Classes Department’s September 1 circular. Uttar Pradesh limits to October 2, with optional October 3—Lucknow’s government gazette July 10 confirms no extension, balancing Ayodhya’s Ramlila crowds. Southern Tamil Nadu observes October 2 but adds October 1 for Ayudha Puja, two days—Chennai schools per State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) August 5 list.
Diwali disparities: Gujarat’s October 20-24 off (five days, including Balipratipada)—Ahmedabad traders per Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) September 10 survey expect ₹10,000 crore sales. Maharashtra’s October 20-23 (four days)—Mumbai’s BSE closes October 21-23, per SEBI’s July 15 directive. Kerala sticks to October 21 only, optional October 20—Thiruvananthapuram offices per Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) August 20 notice. Bihar’s October 21-22 (two days)—Patna per Labour Department’s July 30 order. Breakdown? Diverse—states’ sovereignty shaping festive spans.
Reasons for Disparities: Cultural, Economic, and Administrative Factors
Disparities stem from cultural tapestries: Gujarat’s Garba marathon justifies Dussehra’s four days, Maharashtra’s Ganesh-Diwali continuum four for Diwali—per a 2024 ICSSR study, 70% western states’ extensions cultural imperatives. Economic calculus: Gujarat’s ₹5,000 crore Navratri tourism (2024 WTTC data) warrants breaks; Bihar’s agrarian economy limits to two days, prioritizing harvests—per NITI Aayog 2025 report, 40% GDP loss in extended holidays avoided.
Administrative autonomy: States notify by July per DoPT guidelines, factoring local calendars—Kerala’s Malayalam month Chingam influences brevity. Federal push: 2023 Labour Code amendments allow two extra restricted holidays, but uptake varies—Delhi’s 2025 list adds October 3 optional. Factors? Multifaceted—culture commands, economy calibrates, administration adapts.
Impact on Education and Employment: Students and Workers in the Festive Flux
For students, Dussehra’s long breaks in Gujarat mean extended Garba camps, but Maharashtra’s four-day Diwali disrupts mid-terms—per CBSE’s 2025 calendar, October 2-3 holidays, schools resuming October 4. Kerala’s brevity aids continuity, but Bihar’s two-day Diwali forces catch-up classes—NCERT’s 2024 survey notes 20% learning loss in short breaks.
Workers? Gujarat’s five-day Diwali boosts MSME productivity post-fest, but Maharashtra’s four days spike absenteeism 30% (CII 2025 data). Central PSUs like ONGC observe only gazetted days, per DoPT, minimizing disruptions. Flux? Festive—education extends, employment endures.
Government Policies and Future Trends: Toward Uniformity or Diversity?
Policies evolve: DoPT’s 2025 push for “inclusive calendars” adds two optional Diwali days, but states resist—Gujarat’s CM Patel September 10: “Tradition trumps uniformity.” Future? NITI Aayog’s 2026 “Holiday Harmonization” proposes minimum three-day Diwali, but federalism favors diversity—per 2025 Lok Sabha debate, 60% MPs back state autonomy.
Trends? Hybrid work post-COVID extends virtual offs, AI calendars (Google’s 2025 Festive Planner) predict disruptions. Uniformity? Unlikely—diversity defines India’s festive federalism.
Festive Forward: Embracing the Breaks We Have
September 23, 2025, clarifies festive facts: Dussehra’s long breaks selective, Diwali’s six-day myth busted. Amid diversity’s dance, embrace—plan pujo, prioritize puja. Forward? Festive—India’s holidays, heart’s holiday.