It is said about India that it is a country of festivals. Hardly a month passes when there is no major festival in some part of India. This time too, there are major festivals like Dussehra on October 11 and Durga Puja on October 12. Let us know whether there will be a holiday in banks on these special occasions or not.
Bank holiday today: Business Desk, New Delhi. This month i.e. in October 2024, banks will remain closed for a total of 15 days. Banks are closed on every Sunday along with the second and fourth Saturdays. But, there are many important festivals and days this month. Gandhi Jayanti was celebrated on Wednesday, October 2. At the same time, there will be additional closure of banks due to many regional holidays like Navratri, Durga Puja and state-specific festivals.
Will banks be closed on October 11 (Friday)?
October 11 is Dussehra (Mahastami/Mahanavami). This festival is celebrated with great pomp in most parts of the country. This day is on the list of official holidays of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Therefore, banks will remain closed on October 11. Banking regulator RBI oversees the holiday schedule. This includes Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) holidays and account closure restrictions, which apply to both public and private sector banks.
However, online and digital banking services will remain available despite the closure of physical branches of banks. This will ensure that customers can transact without any hassle.
Major Bank Holidays in October 2024
October 11: Dussehra (Mahastami/Mahanavami)/Ayudha Puja/Durga Puja/Durga Ashtami
October 12: Second Saturday/Dussehra/Dussehra (Mahanavami/Vijayadashami)/Durga Puja (Dassain)
October 13: Sunday
October 14: Durga Puja (Dassain) (Banks will remain closed in Gangtok)
October 17, 2024 (Thursday): Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti/Kati Bihu – observed in states like Karnataka, Assam and Himachal Pradesh.
October 26, 2024 (Saturday): Accession Day – observed in Jammu and Kashmir.
October 31, 2024 (Thursday): Diwali (Deepawali) – A major festival celebrated across the country, especially in states like Gujarat and West Bengal. This day is also the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Apart from this, banks will remain statutory closed on the second and fourth Saturdays (October 12 and 26) as well as every Sunday of the month.
State-wise Bank Holidays
The month of October will see different states celebrating certain festivals, which will lead to bank holidays. For instance, Assam will celebrate Kati Bihu on October 17, while Jammu and Kashmir will celebrate Accession Day on October 26. Similarly, several states will celebrate Durga Puja and Dussehra on different dates in the second week of October.
