Bank Holidays in March 2026 — Complete List of Bank Holidays in India

March 2026 is one of the busiest months for bank holidays in India. With festivals like Holi, Eid-Ul-Fitr, Ram Navami, and Mahavir Jayanti falling in this month, banks across India will remain closed for up to 11 days (excluding regular weekend closures). Plan your bank visits carefully using this complete RBI holiday calendar for March 2026.

How Bank Weekend Closures Work

Before looking at festival holidays, understand the regular weekly closures:

• All Sundays — Banks are closed every Sunday
• 2nd and 4th Saturdays — Banks are closed on the 2nd Saturday (March 14) and 4th Saturday (March 28)
• 1st, 3rd, and 5th Saturdays — Banks remain open on March 7, 21

This means in March 2026, there are 7 regular weekend closures: 5 Sundays + 2 Saturdays.

Complete List of Bank Holidays in March 2026

Here is the date-wise list of bank holidays as per the RBI holiday calendar:

March 2 (Monday) — Holika Dahan

Cities closed: Kanpur, Lucknow

March 3 (Tuesday) — Holi / Dol Jatra / Dhulandi / Attukal Pongala

Cities closed: Belapur, Bhopal, Dehradun, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Panaji, Patna, Ranchi, Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayawada

March 4 (Wednesday) — Holi 2nd Day / Dhuleti / Yaosang

Cities closed: Agartala, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Gangtok, Imphal, Itanagar, Jammu, Kanpur, Lucknow, New Delhi, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, Shillong, Shimla

March 13 (Friday) — Chapchar Kut

Cities closed: Aizawl

March 17 (Tuesday) — Shab-I-Qadr

Cities closed: Jammu, Srinagar

March 19 (Thursday) — Gudhi Padwa / Ugadi / Telugu New Year / Cheiraoba

Cities closed: Belapur, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jammu, Mumbai, Nagpur, Panaji, Srinagar, Vijayawada

March 20 (Friday) — Eid-Ul-Fitr (Ramzan) / Jumat-ul-Vida

Cities closed: Jammu, Kochi, Srinagar, Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayawada

March 21 (Saturday) — Ramzan-Id (Eid-Ul-Fitr) / Sarhul

Cities closed: Agartala, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Belapur, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Gangtok, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Imphal, Itanagar, Jaipur, Jammu, Kanpur, Kohima, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Panaji, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, Shillong, Srinagar

Note: March 21 is a 3rd Saturday (normally a working Saturday), but banks will be closed across most cities due to Eid-Ul-Fitr.

March 26 (Thursday) — Shree Ram Navami

Cities closed: Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Belapur, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Jaipur, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Ranchi, Shimla

March 27 (Friday) — Shree Ram Navami (Chaite Dasain)

Cities closed: Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Gangtok, Hyderabad, Patna, Vijayawada

March 31 (Tuesday) — Mahavir Jayanti

Cities closed: Ahmedabad, Belapur, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chennai, Jaipur, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi

Bank Holidays in March 2026 — Summary Table

Total Working Days in March 2026

For most cities, the total working days in March 2026 will be approximately 17-19 days depending on which regional holidays apply to your state. Major metro cities like Mumbai and Delhi will have fewer working days due to multiple festival closures.

State-Wise Bank Holidays — Key Highlights

North India (Delhi, UP, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab)

• Holi holidays: March 2-4 (up to 3 days)
• Eid-Ul-Fitr: March 21
• Ram Navami: March 26
• Mahavir Jayanti: March 31
• Combined with weekends, banks in North India may be closed for 5-6 consecutive days around Holi (Feb 28 Sat to March 4 Wed)

South India (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana)

• Ugadi/Gudhi Padwa: March 19
• Eid-Ul-Fitr: March 20-21
• Mahavir Jayanti: March 31
• Holi closures are limited compared to North India

West India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa)

• Holi: March 3-4
• Gudhi Padwa: March 19
• Eid-Ul-Fitr: March 21
• Ram Navami: March 26
• Mahavir Jayanti: March 31

East India (West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha)

• Dol Jatra/Holi: March 3-4
• Eid-Ul-Fitr/Sarhul: March 21
• Ram Navami: March 26-27
• Mahavir Jayanti: March 31

Northeast India

• Holi/Yaosang: March 3-4
• Chapchar Kut: March 13 (Mizoram)
• Eid-Ul-Fitr: March 21

Important Tips for Planning Bank Visits in March 2026

1. Plan around Holi week — Banks in North India will be closed March 2-4. Complete urgent transactions before February 28.

2. Use digital banking — NEFT, RTGS, UPI, and internet banking work even on bank holidays. Use them for urgent transfers.

3. ATM withdrawals — ATMs remain functional on holidays, but may run out of cash during long weekends. Withdraw cash in advance.

4. Financial year-end rush — March 31 is the last day of the financial year AND a bank holiday (Mahavir Jayanti) in many cities. Complete all FY-end banking work by March 30.

5. Check your specific city — Bank holidays vary by city. Always confirm with your local branch or check the RBI Holiday Calendar.

6. Clearing delays — Cheque clearances may be delayed during holiday periods. Allow extra processing time for cheque deposits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are banks closed on Holi 2026?

Yes. Banks are closed on March 3, 2026 (Holi) in most cities across India. In Uttar Pradesh, banks also close on March 2 for Holika Dahan. In North India and several other states, March 4 is also a holiday for Holi 2nd Day.

How many days are banks closed in March 2026?

Banks across India will be closed for up to 11 days in March 2026 due to festival holidays (excluding regular Sunday and Saturday closures). The exact number depends on your city and state.

Is March 31, 2026 a bank holiday?

Yes, March 31, 2026 is a bank holiday in many cities due to Mahavir Jayanti. This is significant as it is also the last day of the financial year. Complete all FY-end banking before March 30.

Do ATMs work on bank holidays?

Yes, ATMs continue to function on bank holidays. However, if an ATM runs out of cash, it may not be refilled until the next working day. Plan your cash withdrawals accordingly.

Can I do online banking on bank holidays?

Yes. Internet banking, mobile banking, UPI payments, NEFT, and RTGS services are available on most bank holidays. Only branch-level services are affected by bank closures.

Is Eid-Ul-Fitr a bank holiday in 2026?

Yes. Eid-Ul-Fitr (Ramzan-Id) falls on March 20-21, 2026. March 21 is a near-nationwide bank holiday observed in 30 cities. March 20 is observed in select cities including Jammu, Kochi, Srinagar, Thiruvananthapuram, and Vijayawada.

When is the longest bank closure streak in March 2026?

The longest streak depends on your city. In North India, banks may be closed from February 28 (4th Saturday) through March 4 (Holi 2nd Day) — a stretch of 5 consecutive days including the Sunday.

Where can I check the official RBI holiday list?

Visit the official RBI Holiday Matrix at rbi.org.in to check city-wise holiday details.

Disclaimer: CitizenNest is an independent informational platform and is not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India or any government body. Holiday dates are based on the RBI's published holiday calendar and may be subject to change. Always verify with your local bank branch for the most accurate information.

Related guides: Check our Income Tax guide for FY-end tax planning tips.