Most banks across India are open for business today, Friday, August 8, 2025, with the exception of Gangtok, Sikkim, where branches are closed in observance of the regional festival Tendong Lho Rum Faat. While customers in Sikkim may find bank doors closed, essential financial services remain accessible through online and self-service platforms, ensuring continuity for all account holders.
Bank holidays in India are determined by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) under the Negotiable Instruments Act, which accounts for national, regional, and religious occasions as well as operational holidays like RTGS closures. While the month of August 2025 includes a total of 15 designated holidays for banks across different regions, today marks a regional closure only in one city—Gangtok.
Tendong Lho Rum Faat: A Cultural Holiday Specific to Sikkim
The closure in Gangtok is due to the observance of Tendong Lho Rum Faat, one of the most culturally significant festivals celebrated by the Lepcha community in Sikkim. The festival holds historical and spiritual importance, honoring Tendong Hill, referred to as the “hill of the raised horn.” According to Lepcha folklore, this hill saved their ancestors from a devastating flood, and the occasion has since become a time to remember and express gratitude toward their heritage and ancestral protection.
While this celebration is deeply rooted in local tradition and is officially recognized in the state’s list of public holidays, it does not impact banking operations elsewhere in the country. Thus, the operational status of public and private banks remains unaffected in the rest of India.
City-Wise Bank Operations for August 8
The RBI’s detailed holiday schedule for the year ensures transparency regarding the availability of banking services across various cities. Based on today’s list, only one city, Gangtok, will witness a full-day closure of bank branches. All other major banking hubs, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and regional centers such as Guwahati, Jaipur, Imphal, and Bhopal, are open for usual business hours.
This means banking customers in cities including Agartala, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Belapur, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Imphal, Itanagar, Jaipur, Jammu, Kanpur, Kochi, Kohima, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Panaji, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, Shillong, Shimla, Srinagar, Thiruvananthapuram, and Vijayawada will not face any interruption in accessing branch services.
This operational uniformity ensures that core banking operations like cheque clearances, branch visits for documentation, loan inquiries, or deposits can be carried out without delay in these cities. Customers who were planning to visit branches in Gangtok, however, are encouraged to postpone their in-person visits or switch to available digital modes.
Digital Banking Services Remain Unaffected Nationwide
Even though banks in Gangtok remain closed today, essential banking functions will continue seamlessly through online and mobile platforms. Customers can access core financial services including:
Fund transfers via NEFT, RTGS, and IMPS, depending on the applicable service windows
Account management features such as balance inquiries, transaction histories, and statement downloads
Utility and bill payments, EMI dues, and credit card settlements
Requests for chequebooks, demand drafts, and debit card services
ATM withdrawals and card-based point-of-sale transactions
Banks have over the years strengthened their digital ecosystem to ensure customers across the country face minimal inconvenience during regional holidays. The advancement of fintech platforms has also enabled a majority of routine tasks to be completed without the need for physical presence at a bank branch.
As today’s closure is limited to just one region and does not fall under a national holiday, there is no disruption to interbank transactions or national-level financial processes. This means salary credits, business settlements, and investment-related fund transfers will continue to operate within usual timelines.
Customers Advised to Plan Around Regional Holidays
It is always advisable for banking customers to stay informed about the RBI’s annual holiday calendar, particularly those residing in states with diverse cultural celebrations. Planning in advance helps avoid last-minute hurdles, especially for high-value or time-sensitive financial operations.
For customers based in Gangtok, any in-branch requirement should be rescheduled for the following working day. Meanwhile, remote services can fulfill most needs without hindrance. For urgent matters that cannot be addressed online, users are advised to reach out via customer service helplines or schedule appointments through digital banking platforms once branches reopen.
With India witnessing a wide array of festivals and regional events, the decentralized holiday structure ensures local traditions are respected while maintaining uninterrupted access to essential banking services nationwide. Today is a classic example of how India’s banking system balances regional observances with operational efficiency.
For now, all banking activities in Gangtok will resume on the next working day, while the rest of the country continues business as usual.
