Bank holiday on Karwa Chauth? Will banks be closed on Thursday

Are banks closed on Karwa ChauthNEW DELHI: Planning a quick trip to the bank today? You might want to check the holiday calendar first.The festive season brings a fresh round of bank holidays, but closures are not the same across India, as they depend on the festivals and regional occasions observed in each state.Today, October 29, banks in Himachal Pradesh are closed for Karwa Chauth. But if you are elsewhere in the country, the holiday schedule may be different. Therefore, a quick check before stepping out for your bank related errands could save you an unnecessary trip to the branch.Upcoming holidaysAfter the Karwa Chauth holiday in Himachal Pradesh on October 29, Gujarat is set to see bank closures on October 31 to mark Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary.Bank customers will also need to keep track of the holidays scheduled for November, when several festivals and regional observances are expected to affect branch operations in different states. The list includes Diwali and related celebrations, Ningol Chakkouba, Wangala Festival, Chhath Puja, Igas-Bagwal, Seng Kut Snem, Guru Nanak Jayanti and Kanakadasa Jayanthi.The dates and closures will vary depending on the state and the festival being observed.DateHolidayNovember 9Diwali/Laxmi Puja (Deepawali)/Govardhan Pooja/Vishwakarma DayNovember 10Diwali (Bali Pratipada)/Deepawali (Govardhan Puja)/Laxmi Puja/Vikram Samvant New Year DayNovember 11Laxmi Puja (Deepawali)/Ningol Chakkouba/Bhratridwitiya/Bhaidooj/Chitragupt JayantiNovember 13Wangala FestivalNovember 16Chhath Puja/Surya Shashti Dala Chhath (Prath Arghya)November 20Igas-BagwalNovember 23Seng Kut SnemNovember 24Guru Nanak Jayanti/Karthika Purnima/Rahas PurnimaNovemer 27Kanakadasa JayanthiBank customers need to check the schedule for their location, as closures depend on the regional festival or occasion being observed.Apart from festival-related closures, scheduled and non-scheduled banks also observe holidays on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month, in line with the Reserve Bank of India's holiday schedule.Can you use banking services on a bank holiday?A branch closure does not mean customers lose access to all banking services. ATMs, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), internet banking and mobile banking applications remain available for routine transactions, including fund transfers, bill payments and account management.The main inconvenience is for transactions that require a visit to a physical branch. Customers planning large cash deposits, cheque processing, demand drafts or other branch-dependent work may have to wait until their branch reopens.With several holidays scheduled across October and November, checking the applicable state calendar before visiting a branch can help customers plan their banking requirements and avoid delays.