Indian stock exchanges are preparing for the annual Diwali Muhurat trading session on Sunday, November 8, marking the beginning of the new Hindu calendar year, Samvat 2083.
The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) will conduct the special trading session from 2:20 pm to 3:30 pm IST. A 15-minute pre-opening session is scheduled from 2:05 pm to 2:20 pm.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
BSE and NSE will conduct Muhurat trading on November 8, 2026.
The special session will run from 2:20 pm to 3:30 pm IST.
The pre-opening session is scheduled from 2:05 pm to 2:20 pm.
The session coincides with Diwali Laxmi Pujan.
The occasion marks the beginning of Samvat 2083.
Multiple market segments will participate under their respective exchange schedules.
Although November 8 falls on a Sunday, when regular stock market trading normally remains suspended, the exchanges will open for this special session in observance of Diwali Laxmi Pujan.
Muhurat refers to an auspicious time. In India's investment community, trading during this period is traditionally associated with prosperity and good fortune. Many investors participate through symbolic purchases to mark the occasion and welcome the new Samvat year.
The special trading arrangements will cover multiple market segments, including equities, equity futures and options, currency derivatives, commodity derivatives and securities lending and borrowing (SLB), as specified in the respective exchange schedules.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
Muhurat trading is an important annual tradition for India's investing community. It combines Diwali celebrations with symbolic market participation and marks the beginning of a new Samvat year. The special session also provides investors an opportunity to participate in the market despite the regular Sunday trading holiday.
The exchanges have also outlined separate arrangements for pre-opening activities, block deals, continuous trading, closing auctions and post-closing operations. Trading in securities covered by the Closing Auction Session will follow a separate closing schedule, with continuous trading ending earlier than the general 3:30 pm closing time.
Muhurat trading is a long-standing tradition in India's financial markets. The Bombay Stock Exchange introduced the practice in 1957, while the National Stock Exchange adopted it after its establishment in 1992.
For investors, the session carries greater traditional and symbolic significance than its relatively short trading window. However, the auspicious association of Muhurat trading does not guarantee profits, and market movements remain subject to prevailing financial and economic conditions.
The November 8 session will once again bring together India's investing community for a special market opening during Diwali, continuing a tradition that connects the country's financial markets with the festival.
