NEW DELHI: Planning a quick trip to the bank today? You might want to check the holiday calendar first.The festive season brings a fresh round of bank holidays, but closures are not the same across India, as they depend on the festivals and regional occasions observed in each state.Today, October 29, banks in Himachal Pradesh are closed for Karwa Chauth. But if you are elsewhere in the country, the holiday schedule may be different. Therefore, a quick check before stepping out for your bank related errands could save you an unnecessary trip to the branch.
Upcoming holidays
After the Karwa Chauth holiday in Himachal Pradesh on October 29, Gujarat is set to see bank closures on October 31 to mark Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary.Bank customers will also need to keep track of the holidays scheduled for November, when several festivals and regional observances are expected to affect branch operations in different states. The list includes Diwali and related celebrations, Ningol Chakkouba, Wangala Festival, Chhath Puja, Igas-Bagwal, Seng Kut Snem, Guru Nanak Jayanti and Kanakadasa Jayanthi.The dates and closures will vary depending on the state and the festival being observed.
| Date | Holiday |
| November 9 | Diwali/Laxmi Puja (Deepawali)/Govardhan Pooja/Vishwakarma Day |
| November 10 | Diwali (Bali Pratipada)/Deepawali (Govardhan Puja)/Laxmi Puja/Vikram Samvant New Year Day |
| November 11 | Laxmi Puja (Deepawali)/Ningol Chakkouba/Bhratridwitiya/Bhaidooj/Chitragupt Jayanti |
| November 13 | Wangala Festival |
| November 16 | Chhath Puja/Surya Shashti Dala Chhath (Prath Arghya) |
| November 20 | Igas-Bagwal |
| November 23 | Seng Kut Snem |
| November 24 | Guru Nanak Jayanti/Karthika Purnima/Rahas Purnima |
| Novemer 27 | Kanakadasa Jayanthi |
Bank customers need to check the schedule for their location, as closures depend on the regional festival or occasion being observed.Apart from festival-related closures, scheduled and non-scheduled banks also observe holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month, in line with the Reserve Bank of India’s holiday schedule.
Can you use banking services on a bank holiday?
A branch closure does not mean customers lose access to all banking services. ATMs, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), internet banking and mobile banking applications remain available for routine transactions, including fund transfers, bill payments and account management.The main inconvenience is for transactions that require a visit to a physical branch. Customers planning large cash deposits, cheque processing, demand drafts or other branch-dependent work may have to wait until their branch reopens.With several holidays scheduled across October and November, checking the applicable state calendar before visiting a branch can help customers plan their banking requirements and avoid delays.
