Is Holi a Bank Holiday? (2026)
Yes — Holi is a bank holiday in most Indian states in 2026, but the closure date varies by state: March 2 (Holika Dahan, in parts of Uttar Pradesh), March 3 (Holi / Dhulandi — Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar and others) or March 4 (Holi / Dhuleti — Gujarat, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and others). Check today’s live status for your state on our India bank holiday checker.
A few states close for two consecutive days, and the exact split follows each RBI regional office’s notification — never assume your state matches your neighbor’s.
Holi 2026 bank holidays, state by state
Per the RBI’s March 2026 schedule as published in bank holiday calendars: banks closed Monday, March 2, 2026 for Holika Dahan in Kanpur and Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh). On Tuesday, March 3, banks closed for Holi / Dhulandi / Dol Jatra across Maharashtra (Mumbai, Nagpur, Belapur), Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Goa, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya and Himachal Pradesh, plus Sikkim.
On Wednesday, March 4 — the main Holi day — banks closed for Holi / Dhuleti / Yaosang (second day) in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Odisha, Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir. States appearing on both lists, like UP, Bihar and Uttarakhand, effectively get extended closures.
Why Holi has three different dates
Holi spans multiple ritual days — Holika Dahan (the bonfire eve), the main color-playing day, and regional second-day observances like Dhuleti in Gujarat and Yaosang in Manipur. Different states elevate different days to bank-holiday status under the NI Act, which is why the calendar looks split.
This is normal for Indian festival holidays: the RBI notifies per centre, not per festival. The same pattern applies to Diwali, Eid and Durga Puja.
Planning around Holi week
March 2026 is a heavy closure month: Holi (March 2–4), Chapchar Kut (March 13, Mizoram), Shab-e-Qadr (March 17, J&K), Ugadi / Gudi Padwa (March 19, several states), Eid-ul-Fitr (March 20–21, moon-sighting dependent), Ram Navami (March 26) and Mahavir Jayanti (March 31) — plus Sundays and 2nd/4th Saturdays.
Finish branch work by Friday, February 27 if you’re in a March 3–4 closure state. Digital channels — UPI, IMPS, ATMs — run uninterrupted throughout.
Holi 2027
Holi 2027 dates will be confirmed in the RBI’s 2027 holiday matrix (expected December 2026). The festival follows the lunar calendar, so expect mid-to-late March again with the same kind of state-wise split.
Our India bank holiday hub will carry the 2027 state-wise calendar as soon as the RBI publishes it.
Quick answers
Is Holi a bank holiday in India in 2026?
Yes, in most states — but the date varies: March 2 (Holika Dahan, parts of UP), March 3 (Holi/Dhulandi — Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar and others) or March 4 (Holi/Dhuleti — Gujarat, Delhi, UP and others), per the RBI’s March 2026 schedule.
Are banks closed on March 3 or March 4 for Holi?
It depends on the state. March 3 covers Maharashtra, MP, West Bengal, Bihar and others; March 4 covers Gujarat, Delhi, UP, Odisha and others. Some states close on both days.
Is Holi a bank holiday in Maharashtra?
Yes — Maharashtra banks closed on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 for Holi (Mumbai, Nagpur and Belapur centres).
Is Holi a bank holiday in Gujarat?
Yes — Gujarat banks closed on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 for Holi (Dhuleti).
Do ATMs work on Holi?
Yes. ATMs, UPI, IMPS and mobile banking work normally on Holi — only branch counters close.
When is Holi 2027?
Holi 2027’s exact date follows the lunar calendar (expected mid-to-late March). State-wise bank holidays will be confirmed in the RBI’s 2027 matrix.