Bank Holiday on Diwali 2025: Find out if banks will be closed on October 20 or 21. [Photo: AI Generated]
The festival of Diwali is just around the corner, and one common question people are asking this year is — will banks be closed on October 20 or October 21?
The answer depends on where you live, as Diwali 2025 will be celebrated on different days in different states due to variations in the lunar calendar.
Yes, according to the RBI, most states will observe a bank holiday on Monday, October 20, 2025, for Diwali (Lakshmi Puja).
Banks in Delhi, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and several other regions will remain closed on that day. These closures fall under the Negotiable Instruments Act, which allows each state to have holidays based on its local traditions and festivals.
So, if you have important bank-related work — such as cash withdrawal, cheque clearance, or financial transactions — it’s best to plan and avoid visiting banks on October 20.
In a few states and cities, banks will stay open on October 20 but be closed on October 21, as they celebrate Govardhan Puja or Bali Pratipada on that day.
Banks in Mumbai, Nagpur, Bhubaneswar, Gangtok, Patna, Jammu, Srinagar, Belapur, and Imphal will remain closed on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. Meanwhile, banks in North and South India will already have their holiday a day earlier, on October 20.
The festive month of October will see multiple regional bank holidays.
With several holidays back-to-back, customers should plan financial transactions and ATM withdrawals.
In 2025, Diwali will be celebrated on October 20 in most parts of India. However, some regions will celebrate it on October 21, which also marks Govardhan Puja or the second day of Diwali festivities.
The difference comes from the Hindu lunar calendar, which marks Diwali on the Amavasya (new moon) of the Kartik month. In some places, the Amavasya Tithi begins on the evening of October 20, while in others, it continues into October 21.
This leads to slight variations in when different states perform Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja, or Bali Pratipada. Despite the date differences, the joy, lights, and celebrations remain the same across the country.
