Bank holiday update: Are banks closed for Eid today? When is Eid al-Fitr holiday — March 20 or March 21?

Bank customers have been uncertain about this year’s Eid holiday, heavily dependent on the lunar sighting on Chand Raat. To offer clarity about the bank holiday for Ramadan Eid, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released a formal schedule, specifying which states will observe bank closures on March 20 and March 21.

Notably, online banking services will remain accessible to customers on bank holidays. This allows customers to carry out banking activities without interruption, even when banks are closed.

How is Eid-ul-Fitr different from Eid-ul-Adha?

Eid al-Fitr is one of the two major holidays celebrated by Muslims worldwide. The name literally translates from Arabic as the “Festival of Breaking the Fast.”

Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting, and the beginning of Shawwal. Since the Islamic calendar is lunar, the date shifts by about 10–11 days each year.

Eid al-Adha, or the ‘Festival of Sacrifice’, is a commemoration of devotion. The day honours the story of the Prophet Ibrahim, who was willing to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God, before a ram was provided in his place. It also marks the end of the Hajj (the annual pilgrimage to Mecca).