As India prepares for the celebration of Holi 2025, banks in several states will remain closed for four consecutive days from March 13 to March 16. The closures are due to a combination of public holidays for Holika Dahan, the main Holi festivities, the second Saturday, and the usual Sunday holiday.
RBI Guidelines and State-Specific Holidays
Bank holidays in India are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under the Negotiable Instruments Act and the Closing of Accounts category. The specific dates and holidays may vary across states. This year, Holi falls on Friday, March 14, prompting extended closures in various regions.
Detailed Holiday Schedule
March 13, Thursday – Holika Dahan and Attukal Pongala
Banks in states like Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, and Kerala will remain closed on March 13. Cities such as Dehradun, Kanpur, Lucknow, Ranchi, and Thiruvananthapuram will be affected. Holika Dahan marks the start of the Holi festival, while Attukal Pongala, a significant festival in Kerala, will also be celebrated, particularly in Thiruvananthapuram.
March 14, Friday – Holi (Dhuleti/Dhulandi/Dol Jatra)
Most states will observe a holiday for Holi on March 14. However, some states, including Tripura, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Manipur, Kerala, and Nagaland, will remain open. Major cities such as Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Gangtok, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Itanagar, Jaipur, Jammu, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Panaji, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, Shillong, Shimla, and Srinagar will see bank closures.
March 15, Saturday – Holi/Yaosang (Second Day)
On March 15, the second day of Holi celebrations, also known as Yaosang, will be observed in regions like Agartala, Bhubaneswar, Imphal, and Patna. Yaosang is a Holi-like festival with cultural significance in Manipur and parts of Northeast India.
March 16, Sunday – Weekly Holiday
As is customary, banks across India will be closed for the weekly Sunday holiday.
Additional Bank Holidays in March
In addition to the Holi-related closures, public sector banks will observe several other non-working days throughout March, including state-specific holidays and the RBI-mandated second and fourth Saturdays.
Online and ATM Banking Services Remain Operational
While banks will be closed in various locations, customers can still access essential services through online banking platforms, mobile apps, and ATMs. Those requiring in-person banking services are advised to plan their visits accordingly to avoid inconvenience.
As Holi festivities unfold, it’s important for customers to check specific bank holiday schedules in their regions to manage their banking needs.
