Is Diwali a Bank Holiday? (2026)
It depends on your state: Diwali is a bank holiday in most Indian states, but not all, and the exact date varies by RBI centre. In 2026 the RBI-notified Diwali bank holidays fall on November 9, 10 or 11 depending on the centre — the religious Lakshmi Puja day (Sunday, November 8) is covered by the Sunday closure everywhere. Check today’s live status for your state on our India bank holiday checker.
Because Diwali holidays are declared state-wise under the Negotiable Instruments Act, there is no single national Diwali bank holiday. Always confirm against your state’s RBI centre calendar.
Diwali 2026 bank holiday dates
The RBI matrix lists Diwali bank holidays on three different dates in 2026, centre by centre. Eight centres — including Jaipur, Lucknow, Kanpur, Bhopal and Chandigarh — close on Monday, November 9 (Diwali/Laxmi Puja/Govardhan Pooja). Seven centres — Mumbai, Belapur, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Dehradun — close on Tuesday, November 10 (Diwali/Bali Pratipada). Six centres — Kolkata, Shimla and others — close on Wednesday, November 11 (Laxmi Puja/Bhratridwitiya).
Notable gap: New Delhi’s RBI centre lists no Diwali bank holiday at all in 2026, so Delhi branches stay open through the festival week (Sundays excepted). Because Diwali holidays are declared state-wise under the Negotiable Instruments Act, there is no single national Diwali bank holiday — always confirm against your state’s RBI centre calendar.
Why it varies by state
Unlike Republic Day or Independence Day, Diwali is not a uniform national bank holiday. Each RBI regional office notifies holidays for its centres under Section 25 of the NI Act, 1881, reflecting local festival practice. Gujarat, for example, treats the Gujarati New Year (around Diwali) as the bigger holiday; Tamil Nadu’s Deepavali traditions center on Naraka Chaturdashi.
The practical rule: if your state’s RBI centre lists a Diwali holiday, branches close; if not, branches open normally. Digital banking is unaffected either way.
What to do about the long weekend
With the Sunday closure on November 8 and RBI-notified holidays on November 9–11 depending on centre, the festival stretches into a long break in many states. Branch services — demand drafts, KYC, locker access — should be finished by Friday, November 6. UPI, IMPS, NEFT, RTGS and ATMs work through the entire festival.
Salary and EMI processing via electronic channels continues on holidays; only branch-counter transactions pause.
Diwali bank holidays in 2027
Diwali 2027 falls around October 29 (the exact Lakshmi Puja date follows the lunar calendar). The RBI’s 2027 holiday matrix, expected around December 2026, will confirm the state-wise bank holidays — we’ll publish it within days of release.
Until then, our India bank holiday hub shows the current year’s state-wise calendar.
Quick answers
Is Diwali a bank holiday in India in 2026?
In most states, yes — but it varies by state and RBI centre. In 2026 the RBI-notified Diwali bank holidays fall on November 9, 10 or 11 depending on the centre; the religious Lakshmi Puja day (Sunday, November 8) is covered by the Sunday closure everywhere. Check your state’s RBI centre calendar.
Are banks open on Diwali in Maharashtra?
Maharashtra’s RBI centres (Mumbai, Belapur, Nagpur) list Tuesday, November 10, 2026 — Diwali (Bali Pratipada) — as the bank holiday. Branches are also closed on Sunday, November 8.
Is Diwali a national bank holiday across India?
No. Diwali bank holidays are declared state-wise under the NI Act, so dates differ by RBI centre. Only a few holidays, like Republic Day and Independence Day, are uniform nationally.
Do UPI and ATMs work on Diwali?
Yes. UPI, IMPS, NEFT, RTGS, ATMs and card payments work normally on Diwali — only branch counters close.
When is Diwali 2027?
Diwali 2027 falls around October 29 (Lakshmi Puja), following the lunar calendar. State-wise bank holidays will be confirmed in the RBI’s 2027 matrix.
Are banks closed for the full 5 days of Diwali?
No. Banks close only on the specific days their state’s RBI centre declares — typically one or two days around Lakshmi Puja — plus the usual Sunday and 2nd/4th Saturday closures.