January 18 Bank holiday or not?

Many of us start making schedules for the coming year, booking travels, and organizing finances at this time of the year. Given that the entire year in India is marked with several festivals and events, the holiday for the bank remains unknown most of the time. There has been curiosity around many dates that fall during different times of the year. Whether January 18 is a bank holiday or not remains the subject matter of discussion today.

Importance of Bank Holidays

Bank holidays are significant as they impact our daily transactions, bill payments, and other financial activities. On bank holidays, banks remain closed, and customers cannot access banking services. Therefore, it is essential to stay informed about bank holidays to plan our financial activities accordingly.

January 18: A Holiday or Not?

January 18 is not a national bank holiday in India, but it happens to be the third day of Pongal celebrations for millions of Indians residing in the southern states. Pongal is a four-day harvest festival celebrated as an important part of Tamil Nadu's culture and tradition.

While January 18 is not a bank holiday, some southern Indian banks particularly in Tamil Nadu consider this day to be a bank holiday. However, this is not a standard case and differs between banks.

Bank Holidays in January

Though January 18 is not a bank holiday, January has many bank holidays. These have been mentioned here:

January 1: New Year's Day (National Bank Holiday)
January 14: Makar Sankranti/Pongal (Regional Bank Holiday in some states)
January 26: Republic Day (National Bank Holiday)

In conclusion, January 18 is not a national bank holiday in India. However, some banks in southern India may observe a holiday on this day due to the Pongal celebrations. It is always a good idea to check with your bank or financial institution to confirm their holiday schedule before planning your financial activities.

Also read: Visa Rejections Result in ₹664 Crore Loss for Indians in 2024