For many families, Diwali is a time to celebrate and make a fresh start. India’s stock exchanges have a tradition of their own: Muhurat trading, a short session in which investors can buy or sell.
NSE and BSE have confirmed Sunday, 8 November 2026, in their official notices. The exact timings will be announced separately. Here is what the official notices say so far, how the session works and what to check if you would like to take part.
Table of Contents
What happens in Muhurat trading?
Muhurat trading is a special session held by Indian stock exchanges around Diwali. Muhurat means a time considered auspicious. Some investors place a small trade to mark the occasion, while others simply enjoy following the market as part of their celebrations.
The tradition has roots in the practice of beginning a new financial year around Diwali in some business communities. Today, it brings that custom into the stock market. The session may be festive, but the orders and trades are real.
Key Takeaways
- NSE and BSE have scheduled Muhurat trading for Sunday, 8 November 2026, with timings to be announced separately.
- Muhurat trading is a special Diwali session during which investors can place buy and sell orders.
- NSE has announced the session across its equity, F&O, currency derivatives and commodity derivatives segments.
- BSE has announced it for equity, equity derivatives, commodity derivatives, Electronic Gold Receipts and its RFQ segment.
- A completed trade carries the usual charges and obligations, so choose an investment because it suits you, even if the occasion feels special.
What is the Muhurat trading date and time in 2026?
NSE and BSE have scheduled the 2026 Muhurat trading session for Sunday, 8 November, on Diwali Laxmi Pujan. It is a special session on a day when the exchanges would ordinarily be closed for Sunday.
The Muhurat trading time for 2026 has not yet been announced. Both exchanges say they will publish timings separately. If you are planning to trade, check the final notice for your exchange and market segment, along with your broker’s update. Last year’s timings are not the timetable for 2026.
Source: National Stock Exchange of India, “Trading holidays for the calendar year 2026,” Capital Market Segment, 12 December 2025; BSE, Trading Holidays for 2026.
How does Muhurat trading work?
During the main trading window, you place an order through your broker as you would on a regular market day. You can buy or sell. If your order finds a match, the trade goes through at the applicable price.
The exchanges may also schedule other windows around the main session. For example, a pre-open session can help determine opening prices before normal trading begins. The exact sequence and times for 2026 will become clear when NSE and BSE release their detailed schedules.
A completed Muhurat trade is not just a symbolic entry on a screen. It carries applicable charges and settlement obligations, just like a trade placed on another market day.
Source: National Stock Exchange of India, “Muhurat Trading session on account of Diwali,” Capital Market Segment, 22 September 2025; National Stock Exchange of India, “Trading holidays for the calendar year 2026,” Capital Market Segment, 12 December 2025.
Muhurat trading vs regular trading
The main difference between Muhurat trading and regular trading is the schedule. Here is how they compare for equity investors:
| Point of comparison | Muhurat trading | Regular trading |
| Occasion | A special session associated with Diwali | Trading on scheduled market days |
| Trading hours | A short window announced separately by the exchange | NSE’s normal equity market runs from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. IST |
| Calendar | Can take place on a holiday or weekend; the 2026 session is scheduled for Sunday, 8 November | Generally Monday to Friday, excluding exchange holidays |
| Placing orders | Through your broker during the announced session | Through your broker during applicable market hours |
| Investment outcome | Depends on the security and execution price, with no assured return | Also depends on the security and execution price, with no assured return |
Sources: NSE, Market Timings, Market Timings & Holidays and Trading System.
Which markets will have Muhurat trading in 2026?
The exchanges have confirmed the date across several markets, although their detailed trading hours are still awaited:
| Exchange | Market segment | What has been announced |
| NSE | Equity, F&O, currency derivatives and commodity derivatives | Muhurat trading on 8 November 2026; timings to follow |
| BSE | Equity and equity derivatives | Muhurat trading on 8 November 2026; timings to follow |
| BSE | Commodity derivatives and Electronic Gold Receipts (EGR) | Muhurat trading on 8 November 2026; timings to follow |
| BSE | Request for Quote (RFQ) | Muhurat trading on 8 November 2026; timings to follow |
RFQ is a facility through which participants seek quotes for eligible securities. BSE mentions its RFQ Muhurat session in a notice whose title also covers currency derivatives, NDS-RST and tri-party repo. The notice wording supplied for this article confirms the special session for RFQ; it should not be taken to mean that every segment named in that title has a Muhurat session.
You only need the schedule that applies to the exchange and product you plan to trade. For example, someone buying a share on BSE should check BSE’s equity timings, rather than using the hours announced for NSE or a derivatives segment.
Source: National Stock Exchange of India, “Trading holidays for the calendar year 2026”: Capital Market Segment, F&O Segment, Currency Derivatives Segment and Commodity Derivatives Segment; BSE, Trading Holidays for 2026.
How do you participate in Muhurat Trading?
You can participate in Muhurat trading through your broker’s app, website or other supported trading channel. For buying and holding shares, prepare the following before the session:
- Get your accounts ready: You need a trading account with a SEBI-registered stockbroker, a demat account to hold securities and a bank account for payments. Complete the required KYC beforehand.
- Confirm access with your broker: Check that your account is active and that the product you want to trade is available during the session.
- Arrange funds: For a purchase, ensure sufficient funds are available through your broker’s prescribed process.
- Submit your order: During the applicable window, select the security, quantity and order type. Check these details before confirming.
- Review the transaction: Check whether the order was fully executed, partly executed or remained unexecuted, and review the trade confirmation.
Sources: SEBI Investor, What You Need to Start Investing and Know Your Customer; NSE, Trading System.
Why do people take part in Muhurat trading?
For many people, placing a trade during Diwali is a way to welcome a new beginning. It might be a family tradition, a first experience of the stock market or simply a small transaction planned for the occasion. You can also follow the session without placing an order.
There is no need to change your investment plans to participate. If you do want to trade, it helps to choose something you understand and would be comfortable holding or selling regardless of the date.
Who can benefit from Muhurat trading?
Muhurat trading can appeal to investors at different stages:
- Beginners: Those who have learnt the basics can gain experience using their trading platform and checking an order’s status.
- Long-term investors: The session offers another opportunity to make a purchase already considered suitable for their portfolio.
- Investors following a family tradition: A planned transaction can help mark Diwali while staying within their usual investment budget.
Participation does not require frequent trading or a large purchase. Choose an investment you understand and an amount that fits your finances.
Source: SEBI Investor, Factors to Consider Before Investing.
Benefits of Muhurat trading
The benefits of Muhurat trading are mainly about participation and investment habits:
- A starting point: Diwali can be an occasion to put a considered investment decision into practice.
- Practical learning: Following the session can help you understand prices, order placement and execution.
- A reminder to review: The annual occasion can prompt you to check your investments against your goals.
Trading on an auspicious date does not, by itself, improve an investment’s potential returns.
Sources: NSE, Trading System; SEBI Investor, Factors to Consider Before Investing.
What should you check before the session?
Because the trading window is short, a little preparation can help you enjoy the occasion without feeling rushed:
- Check the official timing: Find the final schedule for your exchange and market segment.
- Decide on your order beforehand: Know what you want to buy or sell, the quantity and the price you are comfortable with.
- Review the charges: Brokerage and other applicable transaction charges still apply.
- Check whether your order goes through: Placing an order does not guarantee that it will be executed.
If you are new to investing, watching how the session unfolds can be a pleasant first step. There is no requirement to place a trade.
How to make the most of Diwali Muhurat trading?
Start with the role a purchase would play in your portfolio. Diwali Muhurat trading can be an occasion to act on a researched decision, rather than choose an investment during the session.
- Look beyond the occasion: Review the business, its financial position and valuation before buying shares.
- Check your existing exposure: Consider whether the purchase adds variety or increases your dependence on a company or sector you already hold.
- Keep the amount proportionate: A festive purchase should fit your investment budget and leave money available for upcoming expenses.
- Understand your order type: A limit order lets you specify a price, although execution is not assured. Check which order types your broker supports during the session.
- Plan beyond Diwali: Decide how the investment fits your holding period and when you will review it.
Sources: SEBI Investor, How to Manage Investment Risks; NSE, Trading System.
Conclusion
Muhurat trading brings a familiar Diwali tradition to NSE and BSE. You can buy or sell during the applicable window, and a completed order works like a real trade on any other market day. The 2026 date is Sunday, 8 November; the exact timings are still to come. Check your exchange’s final schedule, make any decision at your own pace and enjoy the occasion in the way that suits you.
FAQs
What time is Muhurat trading on NSE and BSE in 2026?
NSE and BSE have confirmed Sunday, 8 November 2026, as the Muhurat trading date. The exchange notices covered here say the exact timings will be announced separately.
Can you sell stocks during Muhurat trading?
Yes. You can place a sell order during the applicable equity trading window, just as you can place a buy order. The trade takes place if the order executes.
Is F&O trading allowed during Muhurat trading?
NSE and BSE have both announced Muhurat trading for their equity derivatives segments on 8 November 2026. Check the relevant exchange’s detailed notice for the trading hours and arrangements before placing an F&O order.
Will there be Muhurat trading in currencies and commodities?
NSE’s 2026 notices identify Muhurat trading for its currency derivatives and commodity derivatives segments. BSE has announced a session for commodity derivatives and Electronic Gold Receipts. BSE’s separate notice mentions Muhurat trading for RFQ; its wording should not be extended to every segment named in that notice’s title.
Is Muhurat trading a real trading session?
Yes. An order executed during Muhurat trading is a real trade, with applicable charges and settlement obligations. The session’s cultural meaning does not change how a completed transaction is treated.
Is the stock market open all day on Muhurat trading day?
No. Muhurat trading is a special, limited session rather than a full day of regular trading. NSE and BSE will publish the exact 2026 windows separately.
Can I invest in a mutual fund during Muhurat trading?
The exchange’s Muhurat trading hours do not automatically decide when a mutual fund transaction will be processed or which NAV applies. Check the fund’s transaction rules and the platform you use. If you want to trade an ETF on an exchange, check whether it is available during that exchange’s announced session.
Why do people do Muhurat trading?
Many people take part because they consider Diwali an auspicious time to make a financial start or because Muhurat trading is a family tradition. You can enjoy the occasion whether you place a trade or simply watch the session.
What are the Diwali stock market timings for Muhurat Trading?
Muhurat trading for 2026 is scheduled for Sunday, 8 November. NSE and BSE will announce the exact timings separately. Check the final schedule for your exchange and market segment before trading.
What are the common rituals and traditions associated with Muhurat Trading?
Lakshmi Puja and a small trade to mark an auspicious beginning are associated with Muhurat trading. Customs vary between families and business communities; observing a ritual is not a requirement for participation.
Can beginners participate in Muhurat Trading?
Yes. Beginners can participate once their required accounts and KYC are ready. Learn how orders work and choose investments you understand. Watching the session before placing your first trade is also an option.
How can investors make the most of Muhurat Trading for their portfolio?
Assess any purchase alongside your existing holdings, goals and investment timeline. Consider its effect on diversification and keep the amount within your planned allocation. The investment’s suitability matters more than the date of purchase.
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