Muhurat Trading 2026: Date, Timings & Session Schedule

Every Diwali, somewhere between lighting the diyas and passing around the soan papdi sweet, a lot of Indian investors quietly open their trading app. They're not there to day-trade. They just want to buy a few shares on an auspicious day, exactly the same way their parents bought a silver coin on Dhanteras. 

Diwali is a public holiday across India, and the stock market stays shut for the day. Well, almost. NSE and BSE open one special trading session on the holiday itself, called Muhurat trading. This year, Muhurat trading 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November, and it's an afternoon session, not the evening slot many of us are used to. Regular trading runs from 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM IST, as per the NSE circular dated 19 October 2026.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the exact timings, how the session opens, what the new closing auction changes are, and a few honest tips if you plan to take part. Fair warning: the trades are real, and so is the money.

What is Muhurat Trading?

In simple terms, Muhurat trading is a short trading window that NSE and BSE open on Diwali (Lakshmi Puja), even though the day is otherwise a market holiday. "Muhurat" means an auspicious time.

Diwali marks the start of a new Samvat year, when trading families traditionally closed their old account books and opened new ones. Muhurat trading carries that custom into the stock market. For most investors, it's a way to:

• Start the new Samvat with an investment

• Keep a family tradition alive

• Make a small, symbolic buy on an auspicious day

It's more than a ritual, though. Every trade is real and settles like any other.

But don't mistake it for a ceremony, though. Orders get matched, prices move, and every trade settles like it would on any regular trading day. The exchanges just squeeze it all into roughly an hour, with a short pre-open before it and a closing phase after.

Muhurat Trading 2026 Date and Timings

Mark your calendar for Sunday, 8th November 2026, the day of Diwali Laxmi Pujan. Both NSE and BSE put out their circulars on 19 October, and the equity timings match. You get 70 minutes of regular trading, from 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM.

Quick view: Muhurat trading timings 2026

Sources: NSE.

Full NSE equity (capital market) schedule, 8 November 2026

Source: NSE circular NSE/CMTR/76941. Pre-open and closing auction order entry can shut at a random moment in the last two minutes.

Other segments

Source: NSE Circulars

What is new in 2026: the Closing Auction Session

Here’s the part most people will miss. This is the first Muhurat session since the exchanges brought in the Closing Auction Session (CAS) on 3rd August 2026. It applies to stocks that have F&O contracts, which covers most large, well-known companies. For these stocks, regular trading stops at 3:15 PM. The closing price is then set in a short auction, at the price where the most shares can change hands. Orders must stay within 3% of a reference price, which is the average of trades between 3:00 PM and 3:15 PM.

When the Muhurat Trading Session Begins, and What It Means for Investors

The Muhurat trading session begins well before the 2:20 PM bell most people remember. On 8 November 2026, the first activity is the block deal window at 1:50 PM, where large institutions swap big chunks of shares. For most of us, though, the real start is the pre-open session at 2:05 PM.

That 15-minute pre-open matters more than it looks. Here's how it plays out:

1. 2:05 PM to 2:10 PM: you can place, modify or cancel both limit and market orders.

2. 2:10 PM to 2:15 PM: only limit orders can be placed or modified. The window shuts at a random moment in the last two minutes.

3. 2:15 PM to 2:17 PM: the exchange matches orders and works out the opening price for each stock.

4. 2:17 PM to 2:20 PM: a short buffer, and then regular trading opens.

What it means for you as an investor

• Your order can go in early: If you already know what you want to buy, placing a limit order in the pre-open means you're part of the opening price, not chasing it.

• The opening price can surprise you: Sometimes, festive buying tends to bunch up at the start. Thin volumes plus eager buyers can push some stocks to an odd opening print, so a limit order is your safety net.

• It marks a new financial year for many families: The session opens Samvat 2083. For traditional business families, the first trade is like the first entry in a fresh account book.

• The clock is short: You have about 70 minutes of regular trading. If you're the type who likes to think things over, do that thinking before Sunday.

The simplest plan: log in by 2:00 PM, keep your watchlist and budget ready, and place your order in the pre-open and be calm.

History and Significance of Muhurat Trading

This tradition is older than most of the investors who follow it. BSE held its first Muhurat session in 1957, and NSE joined in 1992. The roots go back further still, to trading families who opened fresh account books every Diwali.

A few customs still give the day its meaning:

• Chopda Pujan: brokers and business owners worship their account books, or chopdas, on Lakshmi Puja and ask for a good year ahead.

• A new Samvat: Diwali marks the Hindu new year. This year's session kicks off Samvat 2083.

• The token first trade: plenty of families buy a share or two of a company they trust, purely as a good-luck gesture.

These days the session is more about sentiment than serious money. Ask around, and you'll find most participants are long-term investors making a small, symbolic buy rather than traders hunting for a quick profit.

Key Rules: Settlement and Obligations

Let's clear up a common myth. Muhurat trades are not "just for luck". The NSE circular is clear that every trade in this session comes with settlement obligations, exactly like a normal day.

In practice, that means:

• Intraday positions have to be closed before the session ends. If you forget, your broker will close them for you, usually at a price you won't love.

• Delivery trades settle on the regular T+1 cycle, counting exchange working days only.

• F&O positions carry forward and are marked to market as usual.

• Charges like STT, exchange fees, GST and stamp duty still apply. Brokerage depends on your broker.

Keep the Diwali holidays in mind too. Monday, 9 November is a normal trading day, but Tuesday, 10 November is a market holiday for Diwali Balipratipada (NSE holiday list 2026). So if your shares or funds seem to take a day longer than usual, that's why.

Conclusion

Muhurat trading 2026 opens Samvat 2083 on Sunday, 8 November, with regular trading from 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM IST. It's a lovely tradition, and there's no harm in joining in. Just keep it sensible: buy something you'd happily hold for years, use limit orders, and don't let the festive mood make your decisions for you.

Ready to make your first trade of the new year? You can do it on the Wealthy app: pick a company you believe in, set your limit price, keep the amount sensible, and let the festive mood stay at the puja, not in your order book.

From all of us, a very happy Diwali and a prosperous Samvat 2083.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information and educational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice, a research report, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security, and should not be relied on as such. Muhurat trading timings and rules mentioned here are based on exchange circulars and other publicly available sources as of the date of publication. Exchanges may revise them, so please check the latest circulars from NSE, BSE and MCX, and your broker’s notice, before trading. Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks. Read all related documents carefully before investing, and consider consulting a SEBI-registered investment adviser before making any investment decision. Wealthy does not guarantee returns and is not responsible for any losses arising from decisions made on the basis of this article.