Ram Navami 2026: Banks to Remain Closed for Multiple Days; Stock Markets Shut on March 26
Ram Navami, marking the birth of Lord Ram, will be observed with devotion across India, leading to multiple bank holidays in different regions. Due to varying dates of celebration, banking services will be affected across several cities this week.
March 26, 2026: Major Bank Holiday Across Cities
On Thursday, March 26, banks will remain closed in many parts of the country on account of Ram Navami. The cities affected include Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Jaipur, Kanpur, Mumbai (including Nagpur and Belapur), Kolkata, Lucknow, Ranchi, and Shimla.
On the same day, stock market operations will also be suspended:
- NSE and BSE: Closed for the entire day
- MCX: Closed during the morning session, reopens in the evening
March 27, 2026: Holiday in Select Regions
Bank closures will continue on Friday, March 27, in select cities where Ram Navami (Chaite Dasain) is observed. These include Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Gangtok, Hyderabad, Patna, and Vijayawada.
March 28–29: Weekend Shutdown
Banking services will remain unavailable nationwide over the weekend:
- March 28 (Fourth Saturday): Banks closed across India
- March 29 (Sunday): Weekly holiday
March 31, 2026: Mahavir Jayanti Holiday
Banks will again remain shut on March 31 due to Mahavir Jayanti in major cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chennai, Jaipur, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Patna, Raipur, and Ranchi.
Impact on Customers and Investors
With consecutive holidays and weekend closures, banking operations will be limited during this period. Customers are advised to plan transactions in advance and rely on digital banking services where possible.
Stock market investors should also take note of the March 26 closure, as it may affect trading schedules and settlements.
Conclusion
The cluster of holidays around Ram Navami and Mahavir Jayanti significantly reduces working banking days. Proper planning can help avoid inconvenience during this period of limited financial services.