On Monday, September 22, 2025, the bustling city of Jaipur in Rajasthan woke up to a quiet surprise: every public and private bank branch in the city had its doors firmly shut. While the rest of India’s financial hubs—from Mumbai to Chennai, Kolkata to Kochi—hummed along with business as usual, Jaipur alone observed a local bank holiday. The reason? Navratra Sthapna, the ceremonial start of the nine-day Hindu festival of Navratri, a celebration deeply woven into the city’s cultural fabric.
According to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) official holiday calendar for 2025, as reported by multiple sources including Economic Times and News18, September 22 was marked as a bank holiday in Jaipur only. The rest of the country’s branches—whether in Agartala, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, or New Delhi—remained open and operational. This selective closure highlights a longstanding tradition in India: bank holidays are not always national events but often hinge on local festivals, customs, and state-specific observances.
The RBI, under the Negotiable Instruments Act, publishes a detailed, month-wise list of holidays every year. This calendar, which includes both regional and national holidays, is designed to help customers plan their banking activities and avoid any unwelcome surprises. For September 2025 alone, the RBI designated a total of 15 bank holidays, factoring in weekends and various festivals. However, as Zee News points out, this doesn’t mean every bank across the country is closed for all 15 days—rather, the total reflects the sum of state-specific and pan-India closures.
The closure in Jaipur on September 22 was specifically attributed to Navratra Sthapna, which signals the beginning of Navratri festivities. The RBI’s holiday list, as cited by News18, clarified that “there is no official holiday today for banks across the country except Rajasthan. It means banks will remain in your state if it isn’t Rajasthan.” In Jaipur, the shutdown wasn’t merely symbolic; all banking operations, from cash deposits to cheque processing, were put on pause for the day. Meanwhile, digital platforms—net banking, mobile banking, UPI, and ATMs—remained fully functional, ensuring that essential financial services continued uninterrupted for customers who needed them.
For residents of Jaipur, this annual pause is more than just an administrative formality. Navratra Sthapna is a moment of spiritual renewal, marking the start of nine days dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine forms. Temples fill with devotees, homes are decorated, and the city’s rhythm shifts to accommodate the festive mood. The bank holiday is a nod to this collective celebration, allowing employees and customers alike to participate in the rituals and gatherings.
Elsewhere in India, it was business as usual. In cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, and Hyderabad, bank branches opened their doors at the usual hour, and customers queued up for their daily transactions. The only exception was Rajasthan’s capital, where the festival’s significance translated into a day off for the financial sector.
This pattern of state-specific holidays is not unique to Navratri. Throughout September and October 2025, the RBI’s holiday list reveals a mosaic of closures tied to various regional festivals and events. For example, banks in Jammu and Srinagar will close on September 23 to mark the birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh Ji, while branches in Tripura, Assam, and West Bengal will observe a holiday on September 29 for Maha Saptami and Durga Puja. On September 30, closures will extend to Tripura, Odisha, Assam, Manipur, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand for Maha Ashtami and Durga Puja. And, of course, October 2 is a national holiday for Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti, Durga Puja, Janmotsav of Sri Sri Sankardeva, and Dasara—on this day, banks across all states will remain closed, as highlighted by Economic Times.
But how do these holidays impact the average customer? For most, the key is planning. The RBI and state governments take care to inform the public well in advance, publishing the holiday lists on official websites and through notifications to banks. As Economic Times notes, “to avoid confusion, the Reserve Bank of India publishes a month-wise list of holidays every year, helping customers know when banks will remain open or closed.” Customers are encouraged to schedule in-branch visits around these closures and to rely on digital platforms for urgent transactions.
It’s also worth noting that, even when branches are closed, essential banking services are rarely out of reach. As News18 explains, “customers can continue to access services through net banking, mobile banking, UPI, and ATMs. While these digital platforms remain operational for transactions, cheque clearing and other physical banking activities governed by the Negotiable Instruments Act will not be processed on these days.” In other words, while you might not be able to deposit a cheque or open a new account in person, you can still pay bills, transfer funds, and check balances from the comfort of your home.
Weekend closures also play a significant role in the September 2025 bank holiday landscape. As mandated by the RBI, banks across India remain closed on all Sundays and the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. In September, these dates include the 7th, 13th, 14th, 21st, 27th, and 28th, as documented by Zee News and News18. Combined with regional holidays, this means that while banks might be open in one state, they could be closed in another on the very same day.
The RBI classifies holidays under three main categories: Holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act, Holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act and Real Time Gross Settlement Holiday, and Banks’ Closing of Accounts. This nuanced approach ensures that both local traditions and national requirements are respected, while minimizing disruption to the country’s vast and diverse banking network.
For the people of Jaipur, September 22 was a day to celebrate tradition and community. For everyone else, it was a reminder of India’s rich tapestry of cultures—and the logistical dance required to keep its financial system running smoothly. Whether you’re a business owner, a student, or just someone needing to cash a cheque, knowing the holiday calendar can make all the difference.
As the festival season rolls on, customers across India are reminded to check their local RBI holiday list before heading to the bank. After all, in a country as diverse as India, you never know when a festival might bring the financial world to a joyful standstill—if only for a day.
