October 2026 is set to bring a long list of bank holidays across different parts of India as the country celebrates several major festivals. From Mahatma
Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra to Durga Puja, Vijaya Dasami and Karva Chauth, bank branches will remain shut on multiple dates during the month. However, bank holidays are not uniform across the country. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) holiday calendar specifies different holidays for different states and regions, depending on local festivals and occasions. For customers, this means it is important to check the holiday applicable to their state before planning a branch visit. At the same time, digital banking channels such as internet banking, mobile banking and UPI will continue to function on most bank holidays. October 2026 Bank Holiday Calendar: Key Dates The month begins with a nationwide bank closure on October 2 for Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti. Several regional holidays follow later in the month, particularly around the Dussehra and Durga Puja celebrations. Here is a state-wise breakdown of the major bank holidays listed for October 2026: October 2: Banks will remain closed across India for Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti. October 10: Bank branches will be shut in Karnataka and Kolkata on account of Mahalaya Amavasye. October 17: Banks in Tripura will observe a holiday for Maha Saptami. October 19: Banks in Tripura, Mizoram, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Meghalaya will remain closed for various Dussehra, Maha Navami and Durga Puja-related celebrations. October 20: A large number of states and Union Territories will observe a bank holiday for Dussehra, Vijaya Dashami, Mahanavami, Ayudha Pooja and Durga Puja-related occasions. The listed locations include Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Assam, Telangana, Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Nagaland, West Bengal, Delhi, Goa, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, among others. Banks will be closed in all states except Manipur and Sikkim on this date. October 21: Bank branches in Tripura, Karnataka, Sikkim, Assam, Kerala and West Bengal will be closed for Vijaya Dasami/Durga Puja (Dasain). October 22: Sikkim will observe a bank holiday for Durga Puja (Dasain). October 23: Banks in Sikkim will again remain closed for Durga Puja (Dasain). October 26: Banks in Tripura, Chandigarh, Jammu, Srinagar and Himachal Pradesh will observe holidays for Laxmi Puja, Accession Day and Maharishi Valmiki's Birthday. October 29: Bank branches in Himachal Pradesh will be closed for Karva Chauth. October 31: Banks in Gujarat will remain shut on account of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birthday. Second And Fourth Saturdays Are Bank Holidays Apart from festival-related closures, customers should also keep the regular Saturday holiday schedule in mind. Scheduled and non-scheduled banks in India remain closed on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month. Other Saturdays generally remain working days unless a state-specific holiday or another RBI-listed closure applies. With October featuring several festival holidays, customers planning cash deposits, cheque-related work or other branch-dependent services may want to complete these tasks ahead of the applicable closure. Digital Banking Services Will Continue A bank branch being closed does not mean that all banking services stop. Customers can continue to use digital channels for many routine transactions even when branches are shut. Internet banking and mobile banking services can be used for activities such as checking account balances, transferring funds and making bill payments. UPI-based payments can also be used for everyday transactions. However, services that require physical interaction with a branch may not be available on a holiday. Customers may therefore need to plan branch visits around the RBI holiday calendar. October 2 Is A Nationwide Bank Holiday The first major closure of the month falls on October 2, when banks across states and Union Territories will observe Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti. Unlike several other dates in the October calendar that apply only to particular states, October 2 is a nationwide holiday for bank branches. Festival Season Brings Multiple Regional Closures The second half of October will see the highest concentration of bank holidays. Dussehra, Durga Puja, Vijaya Dasami, Dasain and related celebrations account for several closures between October 19 and October 23. Since the RBI's bank holiday calendar varies by location, customers should check the applicable state or regional schedule before visiting a branch.
