Customers planning to visit a bank branch should check the holiday schedule in their state before heading out.
Which states have a bank holiday today?
According to the RBI’s state-wise holiday schedule, bank branches will remain closed today in Odisha, Uttarakhand and Manipur on July 16 to celebrate festivals of Ratha Yatra/Kang (Rathajatra) and Harela. Banks in the rest of the country will operate as per their normal working hours.
Why are banks closed?Ratha Yatra/Kang (Rathajatra)
Ratha Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival, is one of Hinduism’s most celebrated religious festivals. The occasion is marked by grand processions in which the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra are taken through the streets on elaborately decorated wooden chariots. The festival is most prominently observed in Puri, Odisha, where it attracts millions of devotees each year.
While the festival is most famously celebrated in Puri, Ratha Yatra is also observed with great devotion in Manipur, where it is known as Kang Chingba. During the 10-day festival, thousands of devotees gather on the streets of Imphal to pull the ropes of the chariot.
Harela
Harela is a traditional festival celebrated mainly in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand and parts of Himachal Pradesh. The vibrant festival marks the arrival of the monsoon and the beginning of the sowing season.
Will online banking work today?
Although physical bank branches are closed in the affected states, digital banking services remain fully operational. Customers can continue using internet banking, mobile banking applications, UPI, ATMs and other online payment services for daily transactions.
However, services that require a visit to a branch, such as cheque clearance, demand draft issuance, locker access and document verification, will be available only on the next working day.
Upcoming bank holidays in july 2026
The RBI calendar also lists several state-specific bank holidays later this month:
July 17: Banks will remain closed in Shillong for the death anniversary of U Tirot Singh.
July 18: All banks will observe a holiday in Gangtok due to the Drukpa Tshe-zi festival.
July 22: Banks will remain closed in Agartala due to Kharchi Puja.
Since bank holidays vary from state to state, customers are advised to check the RBI holiday calendar or confirm with their local branch before planning an in-person visit.
