The Festive Season Brings Widespread Bank Closures
As the joyous festival of Diwali 2025 nears, banks across India are gearing up for an extended period of closures. Known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali is celebrated over several days, each marked with distinct regional traditions and customs. This year, multiple states will observe bank holidays not only for Diwali but also for associated festivals like Naraka Chaturdashi, Laxmi Puja, Govardhan Puja, and Bhai Dooj.
State-wise List of Diwali Bank Holidays
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released a detailed schedule outlining bank closures across the nation. Here’s a breakdown of when and where banks will remain shut during the Diwali festivities:
📅 October 20, 2025
Banks will be closed in the following regions for Diwali, Naraka Chaturdashi, and Kali Puja:
- States/UTs: Tripura, Gujarat, Mizoram, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Assam, Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Nagaland, West Bengal, Delhi (NCT), Goa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh
📅 October 21, 2025
Bank closures will be observed in:
- States: Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, Manipur, Chhattisgarh, Jammu, Srinagar
- Occasions: Diwali Amavasya (Laxmi Pujan), Deepawali, Govardhan Pooja
📅 October 23, 2025
Banks in these states will be shut for Bhai Dooj, Chitragupt Jayanti, Laxmi Puja Bhratridwitiya, and Ningol Chakkouba:
- States: Gujarat, Sikkim, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh
States with Consecutive Bank Holidays
Some regions will experience continuous bank holidays stretching up to five days. Here’s a quick overview:
- Sikkim: 4-day closure from Sunday through October 23
- Chhattisgarh: 3-day holiday from Sunday to October 21
- Maharashtra: 2-day break on October 21 and 22
- Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh: Holidays on October 22 and 23
Additional Bank Holidays in Late October 2025
Apart from Diwali-related breaks, a few more significant regional festivals will lead to further bank closures toward the end of October:
📅 October 27, 2025
- States: West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand
- Occasion: Chhath Puja (Evening Arghya)
📅 October 28, 2025
- States: Bihar, Jharkhand
- Occasion: Chhath Puja (Morning Arghya)
📅 October 31, 2025
- State: Gujarat
- Occasion: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s Birth Anniversary
Major Cities Affected by October Bank Holidays
Numerous Indian cities will witness scattered bank closures during the month of October, including:
- Agartala, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Belapur, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Gangtok, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Imphal, Itanagar, Jaipur, Jammu, Kanpur, Kochi, Kohima, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Panaji, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, Shillong, Shimla, Srinagar, Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayawada
Banking customers in these regions are encouraged to consult local RBI notifications or check directly with their branches for exact closure dates.
What If Your Bank Is Closed?
Even when physical bank branches are closed, digital banking services remain fully operational. Customers can:
- Transfer funds via UPI, IMPS, or NEFT
- Pay bills, recharge services, or shop online through mobile banking apps
- Withdraw or deposit cash through ATMs
However, services like cheque clearance, large cash deposits, or demand drafts will not be available until the banks reopen.
✅ Pro Tip:
Plan your in-branch transactions in advance and take full advantage of online banking options to avoid disruption during this festive period.
