Bank Holiday: Big news for bank customers. Banks will be closed today, Wednesday. If you plan to visit a bank branch tomorrow, August 26, make sure to check if banks are open in your state. According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) calendar, most states across the country will have banks closed today, Wednesday. Today, banks in Kerala are closed in observance of the first Onam. Here’s a look at which states will have bank closures today and the reasons behind them.
Why are banks closed today, Wednesday, August 26?
Many states will see bank closures today, Wednesday, August 26. Bank branches will be closed in Maharashtra, Bengaluru, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Telangana, Manipur, Jammu and Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Delhi, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand due to Eid-e-Milad. Additionally, banks in Kerala will be closed for Thiruvonam. All government and private sector banks, including State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Axis, HDFC, ICICI, Bandhan, and others, will be closed in these states.
Eid-e-Milad or Barawafat or Milad-un-Nabi
Eid-e-Milad, also referred to as Barawfat or Milad-un-Nabi, celebrates the birth of Prophet Muhammad. This festival occurs in the month of Rabi al-Awwal in the Islamic calendar and is observed with great religious fervor by the Muslim community across various regions in India. Homes and mosques are adorned, prayers are recited, and processions take place.
Thiruvonam
Thiruvonam is the most significant day of Onam, celebrated in Kerala. This festival is observed not only by the people of Kerala but also by the Malayali community worldwide. It is believed that on this day, the ancient and beloved king Mahabali returns to earth annually to reunite with his subjects. Mahabali’s reign is remembered as a time of prosperity, equality, and joy. On Thiruvonam, flower pookkalams are created in front of homes. Consequently, banks in Kerala will be closed in honor of Thiruvonam.
Meanwhile Andhra Pradesh was originally scheduled to observe a holiday on Tuesday, August 25th, for Eid-e-Milad, but the government has changed the date. The Waqf Board has adjusted the date based on the moon sighting. All government offices, schools, and banks will remain closed today, Wednesday, in Andhra Pradesh. This holiday, originally scheduled for August 25th, has been moved to August 26th.
Will bank branches remain open in these states today?
Today, Wednesday, August 26, banks will function normally in Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Goa, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Assam.
August 28 – Friday
Banks will remain closed on August 28 in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Kanpur and Uttar Pradesh, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram – Kerala and Himachal Pradesh on account of Raksha Bandhan, Sree Narayana Guru Jayanti, Ayyankali Jayanti and Pang-Lhabsol.