Makar Sankranti is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in Maharashtra, marking the transition of the sun into Capricorn and symbolizing new beginnings, harvest, and positivity. Every year, families across the state observe the day with traditional sweets, kite flying, and community gatherings. However, as the festival approaches in 2026, a familiar question has once again emerged among parents, students, and school authorities: on which day will schools remain closed, January 14 or January 15?
The uncertainty this year is mainly due to the way the festival date is calculated. Makar Sankranti is not based on the lunar calendar like many other Indian festivals but on the solar calendar. The festival is observed when the sun enters the zodiac sign of Makara or Capricorn. In 2026, this astronomical transition is taking place late on January 14, which has led to confusion over whether the holiday should be declared on January 14 or January 15.
In Maharashtra, school holidays are usually announced by the state education department and local district authorities based on official government calendars. These calendars are prepared well in advance and include holidays for national events, religious festivals, and regional observances. For Makar Sankranti, the holiday date can sometimes vary depending on the time of the solar transition and regional traditions.
For the academic year 2025–26, many schools in Maharashtra had initially listed January 14 as the Makar Sankranti holiday in their tentative calendars. This is because January 14 is traditionally associated with Sankranti in most parts of India, including Maharashtra. Over the decades, people have grown accustomed to celebrating the festival on this date, even if the actual astrological moment occurs late in the day.
However, this year the sun enters Capricorn close to midnight on January 14, making January 15 the first full day of Makara according to astrological calculations. This has prompted discussions among cultural bodies and some educational institutions about whether January 15 should be considered the more accurate festival day.
In Mumbai and several other cities, parents began receiving mixed messages from schools and local groups as the festival approached. Some private schools informed parents that classes would remain suspended on January 14, as per the original academic calendar. Others hinted that January 15 might be observed as a holiday instead, especially if the state government issues a revised circular.
The Maharashtra education department has clarified in recent updates that, unless officially revised, the holiday mentioned in the state school calendar will remain valid. This means that for most government and aided schools, January 14 is expected to be the official Makar Sankranti holiday. Students and teachers in these institutions can therefore plan their festival celebrations without worrying about a sudden change.
Private schools, however, have some flexibility in how they observe holidays, as long as they meet the minimum working day requirements set by education boards. Some private institutions, especially those following certain cultural or astrological guidelines, may choose to give a holiday on January 15 instead of or in addition to January 14. This is why parents are being advised to check directly with their school management for confirmation.
The confusion has also been amplified by social media posts and forwarded messages claiming that the holiday has been shifted to January 15 across Maharashtra. Education officials have urged people not to rely on unverified information and to wait for official communication from their school or the education department.
For students, the holiday is an important break in the middle of the academic term. Makar Sankranti often falls close to exam periods in many schools, making the festival break a welcome opportunity to relax and spend time with family. In rural areas, where the festival is also linked to harvest celebrations, the holiday holds even greater cultural importance.
In Mumbai and other urban centers, Makar Sankranti is marked by kite flying, terrace gatherings, and the exchange of tilgul and other traditional sweets. Schools often organize cultural programs and special assemblies around this time, which further highlights the significance of the festival in the educational environment.
If the holiday remains on January 14 as expected, schools will reopen on January 15 and continue with their regular schedules. If any institution decides to observe the holiday on January 15 instead, January 14 may be treated as a regular working day or used for limited academic activities.
Parents who are planning travel or family gatherings around the festival should keep a close eye on messages from their child’s school. Most schools will send official notices through their communication apps, emails, or diaries to confirm the exact holiday date.
Official Holiday Status for Makar Sankranti and What Parents Should Know
As of now, the latest updates indicate that January 14 will be the primary Makar Sankranti holiday for most schools across Maharashtra, including Mumbai. Any deviation from this will depend on individual school policies and any last-minute directives from local authorities.
With the festival just around the corner, families are hoping for clarity so they can enjoy the celebrations without academic worries. Whether the holiday falls on January 14 or 15, the spirit of Makar Sankranti remains the same, bringing warmth, joy, and a sense of renewal to homes across Maharashtra.
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