Banks will remain closed in Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Sikkim, Tripura and West Bengal on October 21, 2026, according to the October bank holiday calendar, in observance of Durga Puja and Vijayadashami. Customers planning to visit a bank branch for financial transactions or other banking work should check the applicable holiday schedule before leaving home.
Bank holidays are determined according to the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) state-wise holiday calendar. A bank holiday in one state does not mean that branches across the country will remain closed.
According to the available holiday list, bank branches in six states will remain closed on October 21 for festivals and related observances. The listed states are Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Sikkim, Tripura and West Bengal.
The holiday observances include Durga Puja and related festivals in Assam, Sikkim, Tripura and West Bengal, Vijayadashami in Karnataka, and a local festival-related holiday in Kerala.
Branches of banks such as State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB), Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Axis Bank may remain closed in the affected states, depending on the applicable branch-level holiday schedule. Customers should verify the status of their specific branch through the official bank holiday list.
Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra, is a major religious and cultural festival in India. It symbolises the victory of good over evil. According to the Ramayana tradition, Lord Rama defeated Ravana on this day. The occasion is marked by Ravana effigies being burnt, religious ceremonies and cultural events in several parts of the country.
Durga Puja is celebrated with particular enthusiasm in states including West Bengal, Tripura and Assam. The festival features decorated pandals, cultural programmes and worship of Goddess Durga.
Bank holidays vary across states because of differences in festival dates, local traditions and state-specific holiday rules. Consequently, bank branches may remain closed in one state while banking operations continue normally in another.
According to the available holiday list, banks are expected to remain open as usual on October 21 in Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
However, holidays may vary at the local level. Customers should confirm the status of their branch through the bank's official website, mobile application or the branch itself before visiting.
Customers planning to deposit cheques, meet bank officials or obtain signatures on financial documents should verify branch working days and operating hours in advance.
Although bank branches may remain closed, most digital banking services generally continue to be available. Customers can use Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for merchant payments and transfers to other bank accounts, mobile banking to check balances and transaction details, and internet banking for online transfers and other digital transactions.
ATMs may remain available for cash withdrawals and other supported services. Customers can also use online banking facilities to pay electricity, mobile and other bills.
The availability of these services may depend on the bank, technical systems and any scheduled maintenance. Some transactions may also experience processing or settlement delays because of the holiday.
