Ghaziabad School Holiday: Classes Suspended From August 4 -12 Due To Kanwar Yatra
Ghaziabad School Holiday: Classes Suspended From August 4 -12 Due To Kanwar Yatra Published By, Last Updated: August 03, 2026, 19:17 IST Ghaziabad has announced
Ghaziabad School Holiday: Classes Suspended From August 4 -12 Due To Kanwar Yatra Published By, Last Updated: August 03, 2026, 19:17 IST Ghaziabad has announced an eight-day closure of educational institutions as lakhs of Kanwariyas pass through the district. Here's why the administration took the step. Rapid Read News18 The Ghaziabad district administration has ordered the closure of all schools, colleges, universities and technical institutions from August 4 to August 12 in view of the ongoing Kanwar Yatra, one of the largest annual religious pilgrimages in North India. The decision has been taken to ensure the safety of students and facilitate traffic and security arrangements as lakhs of Kanwariyas are expected to pass through the district over the coming days. According to the district administration, the closure will apply to both government and private educational institutions. The order comes as Ghaziabad prepares for a sharp increase in the movement of devotees returning from Haridwar with holy Ganga water ahead of Sawan Shivratri, which falls on August 11 this year.
Why Are Schools Being Closed? The temporary closure has been ordered because the Kanwar Yatra significantly alters traffic movement across Ghaziabad, with several major roads either reserved for Kanwariyas or placed under traffic diversions. As the district lies on the busy Delhi-Haridwar pilgrimage route, it witnesses the passage of lakhs of devotees during the final days of the yatra, leading to heavy congestion and heightened security arrangements. With schools reopening after the summer break and student movement expected to increase, the administration said suspending physical classes would help avoid inconvenience, reduce travel risks for students and staff, and allow police and civic authorities to manage the large-scale movement of pilgrims more effectively. The measure is being treated as a precautionary step to ensure public safety during one of the busiest phases of the annual pilgrimage. Which institutions are affected? The order applies to • Government and private schools (Classes 1 to 12) • Degree colleges Universities • Technical and professional institutions However, scheduled examinations will continue as planned.
Colleges and universities can conduct exams if they were already notified before the closure order. Closure period • Closed: August 4 to August 12, 2026 • Reason: Kanwar Yatra and related security and traffic arrangements • Shivratri: August 11, when the pilgrimage reaches its peak. Will online classes be held? While the district administration’s order focuses on suspending physical classes, many private schools are expected to conduct online classes to avoid academic disruption. The decision will vary from school to school. Why is Ghaziabad heavily affected? Ghaziabad is one of the busiest transit points on the Delhi-Haridwar Kanwar route. Every year, lakhs of Kanwariyas returning from Haridwar pass through the district, leading to Heavy traffic diversions • Temporary road closures • Restrictions on heavy vehicles • Large-scale deployment of police and security personnel • Authorities expect traffic congestion to peak as devotees return before Sawan Shivratri. Traffic restrictions Along with school closures • The Delhi-Haridwar highway faces major restrictions from August 4. • Parts of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway in Uttar Pradesh will be closed to regular traffic between August 7 and 12.
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