Noida School Holiday: Schools in Gautam Buddha Nagar to remain closed on August 21

The Gautam Buddh Nagar district administration has announced a holiday for all schools in the district on Thursday, 21 August. The decision has been taken in view of the annual Guru Dronacharya Mela held at Dankaur in Greater Noida.

The fair, organised every year at the Guru Dronacharya temple, attracts large crowds and leads to traffic diversions in the area. To ensure the safety of schoolchildren and avoid inconvenience caused by road closures, the administration has directed schools to remain shut for the day.

The Guru Dronacharya Mela is held in the honour of Guru Dronacharya, the teacher of the Kauravas and Pandavas in the Mahabharata. It is a major cultural event in the region, usually lasting around 10 days. The fair takes place in the premises of Shri Drona Natya Shala and features various programmes and competitions. Large gatherings are expected, leading to heavy traffic restrictions around Dankaur and nearby areas.

Schools will also remain closed again next Wednesday, 27 August, on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. Onam celebrations are also scheduled to begin on 26 August, and schools in many states across India will remain closed during the festival.

Meanwhile, in Maharashtra, schools, colleges, training centres, and anganwadis in Thane, Panvel, Navi Mumbai, and Lonavala have been closed today, 20 August, following an IMD red alert for heavy rainfall. However, in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) clarified that no holiday has been declared for educational institutions, and classes are continuing as usual.