Banking operations in Sikkim will come to a halt on Saturday, December 20, 2025, as the state observes a public holiday for the Losoong or Namsoong harvest festival. This closure, mandated by the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) official calendar, will lead to a three-day weekend for banks in the northeastern state.
Long Weekend for Sikkim's Banks
Financial institutions across Sikkim will remain shut for three consecutive days from December 20 to December 22. The holiday on December 20 (Saturday) is for the Losoong festival, celebrated by the Lepcha and Bhutia communities to mark the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the Sikkimese New Year. This is followed by the weekly Sunday closure on December 21. Banks will also be closed on Monday, December 22, as part of the extended festival celebrations.
For customers with urgent banking needs, digital services remain operational. Online banking platforms, mobile applications, and UPI services will be accessible. Cash withdrawals can be processed through ATMs, though availability is subject to machine servicing and cash replenishment cycles.
Complete December 2025 Bank Holiday Calendar
According to the RBI's state-wise holiday list for the 2025-26 financial year, there are a total of 17 holidays for public and private sector banks across India in December 2025. This count includes the mandatory second and fourth Saturdays, all Sundays, and various regional and religious observances.
Here is the full schedule of bank holidays for December 2025:
- 1 December (Monday): State Inauguration Day and Indigenous Faith Day in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
- 3 December (Wednesday): Feast of St. Francis Xavier in Goa.
- 7 December (Sunday): Weekly holiday pan-India.
- 12 December (Friday): Death anniversary of freedom fighter Pa Togan Nengminja Sangma in Meghalaya.
- 13 December (Saturday): Second Saturday holiday for all banks across India.
- 14 December (Sunday): Weekly holiday pan-India.
- 18 December (Thursday): Death anniversary of Khasi poet U SoSo Tham in Meghalaya.
- 19 December (Friday): Goa Liberation Day.
- 20 December (Saturday): Losoong/Namsoong festival in Sikkim.
- 21 December (Sunday): Weekly holiday pan-India.
- 22 December (Monday): Continuation of Losoong/Namsoong festival in Sikkim.
- 24 December (Wednesday): Christmas Eve in Mizoram, Nagaland, and Meghalaya.
- 25 December (Thursday): Christmas holiday across India.
- 26 December (Friday): Christmas celebration holiday in Mizoram, Nagaland, and Meghalaya.
- 27 December (Saturday): Fourth Saturday holiday for all banks across India.
- 28 December (Sunday): Weekly holiday pan-India.
- 30 December (Tuesday): Death anniversary of freedom fighter U Kiang Nangbah in Meghalaya.
- 31 December (Wednesday): New Year's Eve in Mizoram and Imoinu Iratpa festival in Manipur.
Planning Your Banking Activities
It is important for customers to note that banks operate normally on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays of every month. The extended closures in states like Sikkim and the northeastern region around Christmas highlight the diversity of regional holidays recognized by the RBI.
Residents of Mizoram, Nagaland, and Meghalaya, for instance, will witness a four-day bank holiday stretch from December 24 to December 27, combining Christmas Eve, Christmas, and the subsequent Saturday and Sunday.
Customers are advised to plan their cash requirements, cheque deposits, and branch-based transactions in advance, keeping their local holiday schedule in mind. While core banking and digital transaction services provide a reliable alternative on most holidays, certain services like demand draft issuance, locker access, and new account openings require a physical branch visit.
