Makar Sankranti Bank Holiday: Are Banks Open or Closed Today? State-Wise Holiday Details

As harvest festivals are celebrated across India, bank customers may face multiple branch closures during mid-January 2026. With Lohri, Makar Sankranti and Pongal falling within a short span, banking operations in several states will be affected, particularly between January 13 and January 17.

The Reserve Bank of India has notified these holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act, making them applicable on a state-wise basis. Customers are advised to check local holiday lists and avoid planning urgent branch visits during this period.

Are banks open today for Makar Sankranti?

Banks remain closed in states where Makar Sankranti or its regional variants are officially observed as public holidays. This includes several western, southern and northern states. However, branches remain open in states where the festival is not notified as a bank holiday.

Because these holidays are not uniform across the country, banking services may be available in one state and suspended in another on the same date.

Key nationwide bank holidays in January 2026

Apart from festival-linked closures, banks across India will also observe regular weekly holidays. All bank branches remain closed every Sunday. Additionally, the second Saturday on January 10 and the fourth Saturday on January 24 are non-working days nationwide.

Republic Day on January 26 is a mandatory holiday across all states and union territories, meaning no bank branches will be operational on that day.

Makar Sankranti Holiday: State-Wise Bank Closures

Banks in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana will observe Sankranti-related holidays, with the exact dates varying according to local customs. In western India, branches in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan will remain shut on January 14 to mark Makar Sankranti or Uttarayan.

In the northeast, Assam will observe a bank holiday on January 14 for Magh Bihu, one of the state's key harvest festivals. Other states in the region may also declare closures depending on their respective festival calendars.

Makar Sankranti Holiday: Digital Banking Services Remain Available

While physical bank branches will be closed on these festival holidays, digital services will continue without interruption. Customers can access:

UPI

Mobile banking

Internet banking

ATMs

Services that require in-person visits, including cheque deposits, cash transactions, loan documentation or account-related work, should be planned in advance to avoid inconvenience during the holiday period.

Festival-related bank holidays this week

January sees a cluster of regional holidays due to harvest festivals celebrated under different names.

Lohri on January 13 brings bank closures in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi. Makar Sankranti, also known as Uttarayan or Sakraat, falls on January 14 and is observed as a bank holiday in states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

In the northeast, Assam observes Magh Bihu on January 14, leading to a bank holiday in the state.

Pongal holidays in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu experiences an extended stretch of bank holidays during the Pongal festival period. Thai Pongal on January 14 is followed by Thiruvalluvar Day on January 15 and Uzhavar Thirunal on January 16. Banks in the state remain closed on all these notified days, limiting branch access for much of the week.

Other southern states including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana also observe Sankranti-related bank holidays, though the exact dates may vary based on state notifications.

How customers should plan banking needs

With several holidays falling back-to-back, many regions may see limited branch operations for four to five consecutive days. Customers who require in-person services such as cheque deposits, cash withdrawals beyond ATM limits, loan documentation or account updates should plan these tasks in advance.

Digital services such as UPI, mobile banking, net banking and ATMs will continue to operate normally during bank holidays. However, transactions requiring manual processing may be cleared only on the next working day.

Why January has fewer banking days

January often records fewer working days due to a combination of weekly offs, regional festivals and Republic Day. In 2026, the clustering of harvest festivals makes mid-January particularly tight for banking operations in several states.

To avoid inconvenience, customers are advised to check their state-specific bank holiday list and complete essential transactions before the holiday block begins.