Raksha Bandhan 2024: Bank Hours And Closures On August 19—What You Need To Know

As Raksha Bandhan approaches on Monday, August 19, it's essential to plan your banking needs around the holiday schedule.

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated nationwide, but its status as a bank holiday varies depending on your location. Here's a breakdown of what to expect and how to plan accordingly.

Photo Credit: Oneindia

Is Raksha Bandhan a Bank Holiday?

Raksha Bandhan, along with Jhulana Purnima and the birthday of Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur, will be observed on August 19. However, the recognition of Raksha Bandhan as a bank holiday differs across states. While some states will observe the day as a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act, others will remain open for business.

States with Bank Closures on Raksha Bandhan

According to the Reserve Bank of India, the following states will have bank closures on Raksha Bandhan:

- Tripura (Agartala)
- Gujarat (Ahmedabad)
- Madhya Pradesh (Bhopal)
- Odisha (Bhubaneshwar)
- Uttarakhand (Dehradun)
- Rajasthan (Jaipur)
- Uttar Pradesh (Kanpur, Lucknow)
- Himachal Pradesh (Shimla)

In these states, banks will be closed to observe Raksha Bandhan, so it's advisable to complete any banking transactions before the holiday or plan to visit the bank on the following business day.

Additional August Bank Holidays

August also features other bank holidays:

- August 20 (Tuesday): Sree Narayana Guru Jayanthi
- August 24 (Saturday): Fourth Saturday of the month
- August 26 (Monday): Janmashtami (Shravan Vad-8)/Krishna Jayanthi

On August 26, banks will be closed in numerous states, including:

- Gujarat (Ahmedabad)
- Madhya Pradesh (Bhopal)
- Odisha (Bhubaneshwar)
- Chandigarh
- Tamil Nadu (Chennai)
- Uttarakhand (Dehradun)
- Sikkim (Gangtok)
- Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (Hyderabad)
- Rajasthan (Jaipur)
- Jammu
- Uttar Pradesh (Kanpur, Lucknow)
- West Bengal (Kolkata)
- Bihar (Patna)
- Chhattisgarh (Raipur)
- Jharkhand (Ranchi)
- Meghalaya (Shillong)
- Himachal Pradesh (Shimla)
- Kashmir (Srinagar)

Make sure to check with your local branch for specific timings and closures to avoid any inconvenience.

Given the holiday schedules, it's wise to plan your banking activities in advance. If you need to complete transactions, consider doing so before the holiday or using online banking services if available. By preparing ahead, you can ensure that your financial tasks are handled smoothly during the festive season.