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If you’re planning any banking work this week, take note — banks across several Indian states will remain closed on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, in observance of the Chhath Puja festival. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has declared the date as a public holiday for banks in specific regions, particularly Bihar and Jharkhand, where the festival holds deep cultural and religious importance.

Chhath Puja Leads to Two-Day Bank Closure

According to the official holiday calendar issued by the RBI, banks will remain closed for two consecutive days — October 27 and 28 — due to the evening and morning rituals of Chhath Puja. While Monday (October 27) marks the Sandhya Arghya (evening offering to the setting sun), Tuesday, October 28, is reserved for the Usha Arghya (morning prayers to the rising sun).

These rituals form the concluding phase of the four-day-long Chhath festival, one of the most important occasions in states like Bihar, Jharkhand, and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. During this time, devotees observe strict fasting, stand in water bodies to offer prayers to the Sun God, and seek blessings from Chhathi Maiya for family well-being, prosperity, and long life.

Why RBI Declared a Holiday

The Reserve Bank of India updates a monthly list of regional holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act. As per this list, October 28, 2025, has been marked as a restricted banking holiday for Bihar and Jharkhand on account of Chhath Puja (morning rituals). This means all public and private sector banks, including cooperative and regional rural banks, will remain shut in these states on that day.

However, digital and online banking services such as UPI, net banking, and ATMs will continue to operate as usual. Customers are advised to complete any branch-related work such as cash withdrawals, cheque deposits, or document submissions before the holiday period to avoid inconvenience.

List of Remaining Bank Holidays in October 2025

Apart from Chhath Puja, several other holidays are lined up in October across various states, including:

• October 27: Chhath Puja (Evening Arghya) – Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal

• October 28: Chhath Puja (Morning Arghya) – Bihar and Jharkhand

• October 31: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Jayanti – Gujarat

In addition to these, states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Assam observed earlier holidays in October for festivals such as Navratri, Dussehra, Diwali, and Lakshmi Puja.

About Chhath Puja: The Festival of the Sun

Chhath Puja is a sacred Hindu festival dedicated to Surya Dev (the Sun God) and Chhathi Maiya, celebrated six days after Diwali. It is believed that worshipping the Sun brings prosperity, health, and happiness to families.

The four-day ritual begins with Nahay Khay (holy bathing and preparation of pure meals), followed by Kharna (fasting and offering kheer), Sandhya Arghya (evening prayers), and Usha Arghya (morning prayers). The festival concludes with devotees breaking their fast after sunrise on the fourth day.

Key Advice for Customers

While offline banking services will remain suspended in affected regions, digital services will function seamlessly. Customers are encouraged to make use of mobile banking apps, ATMs, and online transfers to manage their finances during the holidays.

Those who need to visit the branch for urgent transactions should plan accordingly, as normal operations will resume on Wednesday, October 29, 2025.

The Bottom Line

With the Chhath Puja celebrations reaching their grand conclusion on October 28, banks in select states will take a short break in observance of this important festival. For residents of Bihar and Jharkhand especially, the holiday marks a blend of spiritual devotion and community celebration — and a brief pause in financial activity to honor one of India’s oldest and most revered traditions.

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