Several states are gearing up to celebrate Mahavir Jayanti on March 31. Also known as Mahavir Janma Kalyanak, it is an important festival for the Jain community, and is widely celebrated in India and Nepal. The festival celebrates the birth of Lord Mahavir, the 24th and last Tirthankara who advocated peace, truth, non-violence and self-discipline and established the fundamental principles of Jainism. Jains mark the festival with prayers, processions and charity. Temples are decorated and community gatherings are organised to reflect on his teachings.
Banks, schools, colleges, government institutions and other public establishments remain closed on this day to enable people to celebrate the festival with their friends and families.
Mahavir Jayanti Bank Holiday On March 31
According to the holiday calendar of the Reserve Bank of India, nearly a dozen states will observe a holiday on March 31. These include Gujarat, Karnataka, MP, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, UP, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Delhi, Bihar, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh. Customers are advised to plan their transactions accordingly to avoid inconvenience. April has as many as 14 bank holidays, including weekends.
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Bank Holidays In April 2026
- April 1- All except northeast (excluding Tripura), Sikkim, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh (To enable to banks to close their yearly accounts)
- April 2: Kerala (Maundy Thursday)
- April 3: Everywhere except Tripura, Chandigarh, Assam, Rajasthan, Jammu-Kashmir (Good Friday)
- April 14: All except Mizoram, MP, Chandigarh, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Himachal (Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti, Tamil New Year, Bohag Bihu)
- April 15: Only in Tripura, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal, Himachal (Bengali New Year's Day (Nababarsha)/Bohag Bihu/Vishu/Himachal Day)
- April 16: Holiday in Assam (Bohag Bihu)
- April 20: Holiday in Karnataka (Basava Jayanti / Akshaya Tritiya)
- April 21: Holiday in Tripura (Garia Puja)
- April 11, 25: Second and fourth Saturdays
- April 5, 12, 19, 26: Sundays
The RBI mandates that only second and fourth Saturdays in any month be observed as fixed bank holidays, besides all Sundays. This means that April 4 and 18 (first and third Saturday) will be operational for banks unless a holiday is declared otherwise. Customers should also note that while physical bank branches are affected by public holidays, online services such as net banking, UPI, ATM facility, continue to be available.
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