Why West Bengal bankers want holiday on October 17

West Bengal's bankers are petitioning for a holiday on October 17, 2026, coinciding with Maha Saptami Puja, a significant Bengali observance during the Durga Puja festival. The request comes from the West Bengal unit of the All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC) to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. While bankers already have a Durga Puja holiday from October 18 to 21, they want October 17 included as well.

The AIBOC's West Bengal unit secretary, Shubhajyoti Chattopadhyay, argues that declaring the day a holiday would be in the best interest of bank employees' well-being. He notes that banks have arranged for currency chests to remain operational, ensuring ATMs stay replenished and customers continue to receive adequate cash.

The Maha Saptami Tithi begins on the night of October 16 and continues through October 17, effectively giving it two sunrises, Chattopadhyay explains. He emphasizes that if Maha Saptami is being observed, October 17 must also be a holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act to allow bankers and other financial workers to participate in the celebration.

The letter cites past instances where West Bengal has declared multiple holidays during Durga Puja, depending on the Maha Saptami date. The unit argues that it is not unreasonable to request October 17 as a holiday, as the state government already has declared it a holiday for its employees.

Chattopadhyay points out that declaring October 17 a holiday would not only honor the religious observance but also prevent financial employees from feeling left out of the festivities. He concludes that doing so would boost morale and motivation among bankers and financial workers.