Bank Holidays in Kerala 2025

Overview of Kerala Holidays 2025

The bank holidays in Kerala for 2025 include nationwide national holidays such as Republic Day, Independence Day, and Gandhi Jayanti, along with important regional festivals. Kerala banks also observe state-specific public holidays, including Onam, Vishu, and Christmas.

In addition to festivals, banks remain closed on the second and fourth Saturday of every month, as well as Sundays. These scheduled closures, combined with festival observances, form the complete set of holidays in Kerala for 2025.

Customers planning visits to a bank should note these mandatory off days to avoid inconvenience, especially in months with major festivals or bank holidays overlapping with Saturdays.

Major Festivals in Kerala

Kerala is known for its rich cultural and religious heritage. Many festivals are also declared bank holidays in Kerala, ensuring participation across communities:

• Onam
  Kerala's most famous festival, celebrating the harvest and King Mahabali. Banks remain closed during Onam.
• Vishu
  The Malayalam New Year, marked with rituals, family gatherings, and festive meals, is also a declared public holiday.
• Eid al-Fitr & Eid al-Adha
  Observed widely across Kerala with prayers, community feasts, and celebrations. Banks are closed on these days.
• Good Friday
  A significant Christian festival observed with prayers and reflection, recognized as a bank holiday in Kerala.
• Christmas
  December 25th is a national holiday and a bank holiday, celebrated with festive events and gatherings.

The Unique Significance of Onam: A Festival of Homecoming

Onam is not merely a public holiday but the defining cultural and secular festival of Kerala, spanning ten days. The core of the celebration, Thiruvonam, marks the annual return of the benevolent King Mahabali. What makes Onam unique is its focus on communal harmony and agrarian prosperity:

Pookalam: Elaborate flower carpets laid out over the ten days. Onasadya: A grand, multi-course vegetarian feast served on a banana leaf, shared by all communities. Pulikali (Tiger Dance) and Boat Races (Vallam Kali): Spectacular cultural performances unique to the state, turning the entire region into a celebratory venue.

The bank holidays around Onam ensure that the entire state can participate in this grand, uniquely Keralite tradition.