Banks in several parts of India will remain closed on Friday, June 26, 2026, on account of Muharram, according to the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) official holiday calendar for the 2026-27 financial year. The holiday applies only to select states and cities, as bank holidays in India are determined on a region-wise basis. Customers are advised to check the holiday schedule applicable to their location before planning branch visits. While physical bank branches will remain shut in the notified regions, digital banking services, including internet banking, mobile banking, ATMs, and UPI-based transactions, are expected to function normally.

As per the RBI's holiday list, banks will remain closed in Agartala, Aizawl, Belapur, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Jammu, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, Srinagar, and Vijayawada. Since the Muharram holiday falls on a Friday this year, customers in these regions may experience a three-day stretch without regular banking operations, as it will be followed by the weekend on Saturday and Sunday. However, branches in states and Union Territories where Muharram is not observed as a bank holiday are expected to remain open as per their normal working schedule.

Customers requiring services such as cheque clearance, cash deposits, demand drafts, or other branch-specific transactions are encouraged to complete them either before or after the holiday period. Although bank branches will remain closed in the notified regions, essential digital services will continue uninterrupted. ATM withdrawals, online fund transfers through NEFT, RTGS, IMPS, and UPI, along with mobile banking applications, internet banking portals, and customer support services, are expected to remain available, ensuring that most routine banking requirements can still be met during the holiday.

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Muharram marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar and is regarded as one of the four sacred months in Islam. The 10th day of Muharram, known as Ashura, carries deep religious significance for Muslims around the world. Among Sunni Muslims, Ashura commemorates the day Prophet Musa (Moses) and the Israelites were delivered from Pharaoh, and Islamic tradition records that Prophet Muhammad observed fasting on this day and encouraged others to do the same. For Shia Muslims, Ashura is observed as a solemn day of mourning to remember the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who was killed along with members of his family and companions during the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE.

The RBI publishes an annual holiday calendar that categorises bank holidays based on national holidays, state-specific festivals, and observances under the Negotiable Instruments Act. As a result, bank closures differ from one region to another depending on local customs and government notifications. Customers are advised to verify the holiday schedule for their respective state or city before visiting a bank branch. Those with urgent banking needs are encouraged to rely on digital channels during the holiday period, while branch-based services will resume on the next working day in accordance with the applicable regional schedule.

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