RBI Declares Week‑Long Bank Holidays for Durga Puja, Dussehra and Gandhi Jayanti

When Reserve Bank of India released its holiday calendar on June 12, 2025, the banking world braced for a seven‑day shutdown that lines up with the peak of the Durga Puja festivities and the national observance of Gandhi Jayanti.

From September 29 to October 5, 2025, physical branches in key Northeast and Eastern hubs – notably Kolkata, Guahwati and Agartala – will remain closed on the seventh day of the Puja (Maha Saptami) and continue through Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Dussehra (Vijay Dashmi). The schedule also folds in the regular second‑and‑fourth‑Saturday weekend shutdowns.

Festive Calendar and Regional Closures

Here’s the thing: the religious calendar drives the bank timetable more than any fiscal cycle. Durga PujaWest Bengal peaks on September 30 (Maha Ashtami) and October 1 (Maha Navami). The following day, DussehraAcross India is observed nationally, coinciding with the 156th anniversary of Gandhi Jayanti. Because state governments declare public holidays for the festival, banks in neighboring states such as Assam and Tripura follow suit, while banks in Mumbai or Delhi keep their doors open, reflecting the regional variation.

Digital Banking Keeps Running

But wait – the digital side of banking isn’t taking a holiday. The RBI’s statement stressed that NEFT, RTGS, IMPS, UPI, and all internet‑ and mobile‑banking platforms will stay live throughout the break. “Our core payment infrastructure is built for 24/7 operation,” said Shaktikanta Das, Governor of the RBI, in a press briefing on June 13. “Customers can still settle invoices, transfer funds, or withdraw cash from ATMs without disruption.”

Industry insiders echo that sentiment. An executive from State Bank of India told reporters that the bank has ramped up its chatbot capacity by 30 % to field the expected surge in online queries during the holiday week.

Impact on Customers and Businesses

Even with digital channels humming, the physical branch shutdown can bite small businesses that rely on cash deposits or cheque clearances. A shop owner from Kolkata recounted, “I usually drop my day‑end cash at the bank before the weekend. This time I’ll have to wait until October 6, which tightens cash flow.”

According to a recent survey by the Confederation of Indian Industry, 42 % of micro‑enterprises in the East Zone reported anticipating a 5‑8 % dip in short‑term liquidity during the festival pause. On the flip side, e‑commerce platforms saw a 12 % spike in UPI transactions on September 30, as shoppers turned to online payments for festive purchases.

Historical Comparison

Looking back, the 2022 Durga Puja‑Dussehra holiday window spanned six days and caused a 3.4 % increase in delayed cheque clearances, according to RBI’s annual payments report. This year’s longer stretch – seven days plus two regular Saturdays – is the longest in the past decade, underscoring the growing importance of religious calendars in financial planning.

What to Expect Next

The RBI has signaled that future holiday calendars will continue to blend national observances with state‑specific festivals. Analysts predict that as digital adoption deepens, the “holiday‑induced” friction will shrink, but banks will still need to manage cash‑in‑transit logistics for rural branches that lack robust digital penetration.

• Key Fact 1: Physical bank closures will affect 12 major cities across five states from September 29–October 5, 2025.
• Key Fact 2: All digital banking services – NEFT, RTGS, UPI, IMPS – remain operational 24/7.
• Key Fact 3: The holiday period includes two regular Saturday closures (September 28 and October 5).
• Key Fact 4: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das affirmed “no impact on settlement systems”.