Lohri & Pongal 2026 Bank Holiday: Are Banks Open on January 14? State-Wise Details

With the harvest festival season kicking off the new year, January 2026 brings a cluster of bank holidays across India. As Pongal and Makar Sankranti fall on January 14, bank operations will be affected in several states, especially in the South.

Bank holidays in India are notified under the Negotiable Instruments Act and finalised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on a state-wise and city-wise basis, depending on local festivals and customs.

Pongal & Sankranti Bank Holidays: Key Dates

Banks are scheduled to remain closed in different regions between January 14 and January 17 due to Pongal and associated harvest celebrations.

January 14 – Observed as Makar Sankranti / Magh Bihu in several states

January 15 – Celebrated as Pongal / Uttarayana Punyakala / Makara Sankranti

January 16 – Marked as Thiruvalluvar Day / Kanuma in select states

January 17 – Observed as Uzhavar Thirunal in limited regions

Are Banks Open on January 14?

January 14 (Wednesday)

Banks will remain closed in the following states due to Makar Sankranti / Magh Bihu:

Arunachal Pradesh

Assam

Gujarat

Odisha

January 15 (Thursday)

Banks will be shut in these states observing Pongal / Makara Sankranti / Uttarayana Punyakala:

Karnataka

Sikkim

Tamil Nadu

Telangana

January 16 (Friday)

Banks will remain closed in:

Tamil Nadu (Thiruvalluvar Day)

Andhra Pradesh (Kanuma)

Sankranti Holidays: More State-Wise Closures

Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana observe Sankranti-related bank holidays, though the exact dates may differ based on regional traditions.

Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan typically close banks on January 14 for Uttarayan or Sankranti.

Assam observes a bank holiday on January 14 for Magh Bihu, a major harvest festival.

Some neighbouring states may also declare holidays depending on local calendars.

Other Important Bank Holidays in January 2026

Apart from Pongal and Sankranti, banks will remain closed on:

January 23 – Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti (in select states)

January 26 – Republic Day (nationwide)

All Sundays

Second and fourth Saturdays, as per RBI norms

Digital Banking Services Will Remain Available

Even when bank branches are closed, customers can continue to access:

UPI services

Mobile and internet banking

ATMs

With multiple holidays lined up in January, customers are advised to check their state-wise bank holiday list in advance and plan important banking transactions accordingly to avoid last-minute inconvenience during the festive season.