Bank Holiday on Buddha Purnima 2025: Will Banks Be Closed on Monday, May 12? Full List of States Affected

Bank Holiday Alert: Both public sector and private sector bank customers across India should be aware that Monday, May 12, will be observed as a Bank Holiday on Buddha Purnima, a major public holiday observed in multiple states. Buddha Purnima is also known as Vesak 2025 and is an important occasion in the Buddhist calendar.

Why Buddha Purnima Is Celebrated?

Buddha Purnima, also known as Vesak or Buddha Jayanti, marks the birth, enlightenment (nirvana), and death (parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. It is celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu month of Vaishakha (usually in April or May), which is believed to be the day when all three significant events in the Buddha's life occurred. Buddhapurnima is celebrated across many countries in Asia, including India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar.

States Where May 12 is a Bank Holiday

Bank branches to remain shut on Monday, May 12, which includes Tripura, Mizoram, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal, Delhi, Jharkhand, and Himachal Pradesh.

Complete List of May 2025 Bank Holidays

In addition to the bank holiday on Buddha Budhhapurnima on May 12, there are several other bank holidays this week and bank holidays next week that you should be aware of:

On May 16 (Friday), banks in Sikkim will remain closed in observance of Sikkim State Day. May 24 (Saturday) marks the fourth Saturday of the month, which is a regular nationwide bank holiday, followed by the weekly off on Sunday, May 25. On Monday, May 26, banks in Tripura will be closed to mark the birth anniversary of poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. Additionally, on Thursday, May 29, banks in Himachal Pradesh will remain closed in honour of Maharana Pratap Jayanti.

Tips for Customers During These Bank Holidays 2025

If you live in any of the states listed or have business transactions planned for early next week, consider bank holidays can disrupt your transactions. So it is very important to withdraw cash in advance to avoid ATM queues and complete NEFT, RTGS, or IMPS transfers ahead of the bank holiday. Use digital banking services like UPI, internet banking, or mobile banking for essential payments.