Dussehra 2026 Bank Holidays: Are Banks Closed on 19, 20 or 21 October? State-Wise RBI List

Quick answer: The RBI's October 2026 list has Durga Puja and Dussehra bank holidays on 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 October, each only in certain centres. Most major cities close on Tuesday 20 October; Bengal, Bihar, Odisha and Tamil Nadu also close on 19 October, and Kolkata, Kochi and Guwahati on 21 October.

Banks across India close for Durga Puja and Dussehra, but not all on the same day: the holiday follows each state's own festival calendar. In 2026 the closures fall between Monday 19 and Friday 23 October, depending on where you are. This guide lists the dates from the Reserve Bank of India's holiday list and explains why they differ.

Dussehra 2026 bank holidays: the RBI list

The Reserve Bank of India's holiday list for October 2026 names these festival holidays (RBI holiday list):

These are holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act, and each one applies only in the RBI centres listed for that day. As reported by the Free Press Journal on 13 October 2026, banks close on Monday 19 October in several states including Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Tripura and West Bengal; on Tuesday 20 October in most major cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Lucknow; on Wednesday 21 October in Agartala, Bengaluru, Gangtok, Guwahati, Kochi, Kolkata and Thiruvananthapuram; and on 22 and 23 October in Gangtok (Free Press Journal). Check the RBI list for your centre before you visit a branch.

Saturday 24 October is the fourth Saturday of the month, when banks are closed anyway, and Sunday 25 October is a Sunday. So in some states branches may be shut for several days in a row around Dussehra.

Why the dates differ from state to state

The festival itself falls on different days in different calendars this year:

• Durga Ashtami and Maha Navami are combined on Monday 19 October in calendars that follow Drik Panchang, while Bengal keeps Maha Navami on Tuesday 20 October; see our Maha Navami 2026 guide.
• Vijayadashami (Dussehra) is on Tuesday 20 October in most of India, but Bengal, Kerala, Assam, Tripura and Nepali-speaking areas keep Dashami on Wednesday 21 October.
• Ayudha Puja falls on Tuesday 20 October in South India.

State governments publish their own holiday lists, and the RBI centres follow them. For example, the West Bengal government lists Maha Ashtami on 19 October, Maha Nabami on 20 October and Dashami on 21 October (Govt. of West Bengal), while Kerala lists Mahanavami on 20 October and Vijayadasami on 21 October (Onmanorama).

Other October 2026 bank holidays

The RBI list also includes Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti (2 October, nationwide), Mahalaya Amavasye (10 October), Laxmi Puja / Accession Day / Maharishi Valmiki's Birthday (26 October), Karva Chauth (29 October) and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's Birthday (31 October), each in the centres that observe it. Diwali bank holidays fall in November; see our Diwali 2026 guide.

Banking during the holidays

Online and mobile banking, UPI, ATMs and card payments generally keep working on bank holidays, but cheque clearing and branch services do not. If you have a deadline such as a loan EMI, a cheque deposit or a demand draft, plan it before the festival, and check with your bank for any changes to its own schedule.

Quick guide by region

This table summarises the reports above; each centre's exact list is on the RBI page, and individual banks may announce additional local closures.

Planning payments around the holidays

• NEFT and RTGS run round the clock, every day of the year, since the RBI made NEFT available 24x7 in December 2019 and RTGS in December 2020, so electronic transfers are not held up by the festival.
• Cheques deposited during the holidays are cleared only on the next working day in your centre, so deposit important cheques early.
• Loan EMIs and SIPs due on a holiday are usually debited on the next working day; check your bank's terms if a due date falls between 19 and 23 October.
• Cash: ATMs stay open, but withdraw festival cash a day or two early, as some machines run out during long closures.
• Locker and branch work such as demand drafts, account changes or gold loans should be finished before Saturday 17 October in states with long closures.

Schools and offices

School and office holidays are set separately by each state government and institution, and often differ from the bank list. Check your state government's holiday notification or your school calendar. For the festival itself, see our Dussehra 2026 date and Vijay Muhurat guide and Ravan Dahan timings city-wise.

Frequently asked questions

Are banks closed on Dussehra 2026?

Yes, but on different days by state. Most major cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad, close on Tuesday 20 October; check the RBI list for your centre.

Are banks closed on 19 October 2026?

In several states, including Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Tripura and West Bengal, for Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami, Durga Puja and Ayudha Puja.

Are banks closed on 21 October 2026?

In centres such as Agartala, Bengaluru, Gangtok, Guwahati, Kochi, Kolkata and Thiruvananthapuram, for Vijaya Dasami and Durga Puja.

Will UPI and ATMs work on bank holidays?

Online banking, UPI, ATMs and card payments generally keep working; branch services and cheque clearing do not.

Is 24 October 2026 a bank holiday?

It is the fourth Saturday of the month, when banks are closed in any case.

Editor's note (15 October 2026)

Dates and times were checked on 15 October 2026 against the official and calendar sources linked in this article. Local customs and announcements vary, so confirm with your temple, puja committee, bank or local authority.

Related guides

• Maha Navami 2026: why there are two dates
• Durga Visarjan 2026