Bank Holiday 2026: Are Banks Closed For Pongal, BMC Election, Makara Sankranti On January 15? City-Wise List

Indian scheduled commercial banks are closed on January 15 for a host of festivals. These include Pongal, Makar Sankranti, Uttarayana Punyakala and key major event of Maharashtra, BMC Election. However, bank holidays vary from state to state. Hence, not all banks in the entire country are closed on Thursday.

Bank Holiday On January 15:

As per RBI's holiday list, banks are closed on January 15 due to Uttarayana Punyakala, Pongal, Maghe Sankranti, Makara Sankranti, and Election to Municipal Corporations in Maharashtra.

However, banks are closed in cities like Belapur, Bengaluru, Chennai, Gangtok, Hyderabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, and Vijayawada. In remaining cities, banks are operating as normal.

Uttarayana Punyakala 2026:

During Makar Sankranti, many devotees observe Uttarayana Punyakalam which resembles cultural and spiritual significance. As per Dharma, in Hindu practice, it is revered as a favorable period for sankalpa (sacred resolve) and ancestral offerings; related rhythms of solar transition are honored across Dharmic traditions-Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism-in ways that nurture shared values of gratitude, service, and unity.

Pongal 2026:

Pongal is a multi-day Hindu harvest festival celebrated by Tamils. The festival is celebrated over three or four consecutive days, which are named Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal and Kaanum Pongal, beginning on the last day of the Tamil calendar month of Margazhi. Thai Pongal is observed on the first day of the Tamil calendar month of Thai and usually falls on 14 or 15 January in the Gregorian calendar, as per Wikipedia.

Makar Sankranti 2026:

Makar Sankranti, Hindu festival in January celebrating the entrance of the Sun into the astrological sign of makara (corresponding to Capricorn) and the beginning of the Sun's uttarayana (northward journey). Makar Sankranti occurs on January 14 (or 15 during a leap year). It is considered an auspicious time and a significant holiday for ritual bathing and offerings to the Hindu Sun god, Surya. It is also celebrated as a festival for the harvest of various winter crops, as per Britannica.

BMC Election 2026:

The BMC 2026 is an election of members to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation who govern the Greater Mumbai, which is the second largest metropolis in India. Also, Mumbai is the financial hub of the country. The election started in the early hours of 15 January, 2026 and the counting will take place on 16 January, 2026.

The BMC election this year is going to be held from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm across all 227 wards of Mumbai. From this total, about 114 seats are reserved for women.

What Is Closed During Bank Holidays?

Only physical branches are closed during bank holidays The online banking services are operational. Apart from this ATM services are open 24x7.