Chennai, January 11: The Tamil Nadu government has officially released the school holiday schedule for the upcoming Pongal festival in January 2026. Students across the state are set to receive a mid-month break starting from January 15, coinciding with the traditional harvest celebrations. With several public holidays and a weekend following the festivities, most educational institutions will remain closed for at least four consecutive days.

The state government has designated the primary festival days as public holidays, ensuring that students and staff can participate in the cultural observances. The official holidays are as follows: Pongal 2026: Tamil Nadu Gears Up for Festival As Four-Day Celebration of Harvest and Gratitude To Begin From January 13; State Govt Announces Pongal Gift Tokens.

  • January 15 (Thursday): Thai Pongal

  • January 16 (Friday): Mattu Pongal and Thiruvalluvar Day

  • January 17 (Saturday): Kaanum Pongal and Uzhavar Thirunal

As January 18 falls on a Sunday, schools and colleges will resume their regular academic schedules on Monday, January 19, 2026.

Bhogi Celebrations and Travel

The festival period begins with Bhogi on Wednesday, January 14. While Bhogi is often observed as a restricted holiday rather than a general public holiday, many families in urban centers like Chennai begin traveling to their ancestral villages on this day.

Due to the heavy influx of travelers, transport departments typically operate special buses and trains to accommodate those heading to southern and western districts. Pongal Festival Bonus: Tamil Nadu Govt Sanctions INR 3,000 for Lower-Grade Employees, INR 1,000 for Pensioners.

Additional January Holidays

Beyond the Pongal season, January remains a month of frequent breaks for the academic community. Schools will also be closed on Monday, January 26, in observance of Republic Day, creating a long weekend for students and government employees.

Local district collectors may also announce additional local holidays for specific temple festivals or regional events, and parents are advised to check with individual school administrations for any such district-specific updates.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 11, 2026 09:09 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).