Diwali 2026 Muhurat Trading: Date, Timings, History and What Investors Should Know
Every year, the Indian stock market does something unusual on Diwali. Even though the festival is a market holiday, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and BSE open for a short, special session called Muhurat Trading. For many traders and families, placing a small trade in this window is a way of starting the new financial year on an auspicious note.
In 2026, Diwali Laxmi Pujan falls on Sunday, 8 November. Published 2026 holiday lists say the exchanges will hold Muhurat Trading on that day, with the exact timings to be notified later through an exchange circular. In this guide, we explain the expected date, how the session normally works, its history, the holidays around Diwali, past Sensex and Nifty trends, and the practical points every investor should keep in mind.
Please note: this post is purely educational. It does not recommend buying or selling any stock, and past trends do not guarantee future returns.
At a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Diwali Muhurat Trading 2026 |
| Date | Sunday, 8 November 2026 (Diwali Laxmi Pujan) |
| Timings | To be announced by NSE/BSE circular |
| Duration | Usually about one hour of normal trading |
| Exchanges | NSE and BSE |
| New year marked | Samvat 2083 (Hindu Vikram Samvat) |
| Started at BSE | 1957 |
| Started at NSE | 1992 |
- What Is Muhurat Trading?
- Muhurat Trading 2026: Expected Date and Timings
- Stock Market Holidays Around Diwali 2026
- History of Muhurat Trading in India
- Samvat 2083: The New Accounting Year
- How the Muhurat Trading Session Works
- Past Muhurat Session Performance: Sensex and Nifty
- What Investors Should Keep in Mind
- Common Myths About Muhurat Trading
- Key Points for Quick Revision
- Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
What Is Muhurat Trading?
In Hindu tradition, a 'muhurat' is an auspicious time chosen for starting something important. Muhurat Trading is a special, short trading session held by Indian stock exchanges on Diwali, during the Lakshmi Puja period. It symbolically opens the new accounting year, known as Samvat, which begins with Diwali.
For generations, many trading communities in India, especially in Gujarat and Maharashtra, have treated Diwali as the start of their business year. Traders worship Goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and begin fresh account books. The stock exchange session carries that custom into the modern market: investors place token buy orders, hoping for prosperity in the year ahead.
Although the session is symbolic, the trades are real. Orders placed during Muhurat Trading are executed on the exchange just like trades on any normal day, and they carry the usual obligations of buying or selling.
Muhurat Trading 2026: Expected Date and Timings
Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. According to panchang sites, the Amavasya (new moon) tithi begins just after midnight on 8 November and ends that night, and the Lakshmi Puja muhurat falls in the evening. Published 2026 trading-holiday lists show Diwali Laxmi Pujan on 8 November as a weekend holiday and state that Muhurat Trading will be held on that day.
As of 18 October 2026, the exact session timings had not been confirmed in the sources we reviewed. Every year, NSE and BSE announce the schedule through an official circular a few weeks before Diwali. The schedule normally includes a block deal window, a pre-open session, the main one-hour trading window and a short closing session.
The timing is not fixed from year to year. For many years the session was held in the evening. In 2025, however, the exchanges moved it to the afternoon: the pre-open began at 1:30 pm and trading ran from 1:45 pm to 2:45 pm on 21 October 2025. So do not assume the 2026 timings will match any earlier year. Wait for the official circular on nseindia.com or bseindia.com.
| Detail | 2026 Status |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, 8 November 2026 |
| Block deal window | To be announced |
| Pre-open session | To be announced |
| Normal trading (about 1 hour) | To be announced |
| Closing session | To be announced |
| Where to check | NSE and BSE official circulars |
Stock Market Holidays Around Diwali 2026
Diwali season also includes regular market holidays, which matter if you plan to buy or sell around the festival. According to the 2026 NSE holiday list reported by Outlook Money, Diwali Laxmi Pujan on 8 November falls on a Sunday, so it does not reduce the number of weekday trading days. The markets will, however, be closed on Tuesday, 10 November 2026 for Diwali Balipratipada.
Later in the month, the markets will also be closed on Tuesday, 24 November 2026 for Prakash Gurpurb Sri Guru Nanak Dev (Guru Nanak Jayanti). Earlier in the autumn, the list shows Dussehra on Tuesday, 20 October 2026 as a trading holiday.
| Date | Day | Occasion | Market Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 October 2026 | Tuesday | Dussehra | Closed |
| 8 November 2026 | Sunday | Diwali Laxmi Pujan | Weekend; Muhurat session expected |
| 10 November 2026 | Tuesday | Diwali Balipratipada | Closed |
| 24 November 2026 | Tuesday | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Closed |
If you have pending settlements, SIP debits or planned exits around these dates, keep the holidays in mind. Settlement dates shift when a trading holiday falls in between.
History of Muhurat Trading in India
Muhurat Trading is one of the oldest traditions on Dalal Street. Reports say it began at the Bombay Stock Exchange (now BSE) in 1957, long before the National Stock Exchange existed. NSE adopted the custom in 1992.
The idea comes from the older practice among Indian merchants of worshipping new account books on Diwali and beginning the year's business afresh. When stock trading became formal and exchange-based, brokers and investors continued the custom by opening the market briefly on the festival day.
Over time, the session has changed with technology. In the past, it was mostly brokers on the trading floor. Today, millions of retail investors can place a Muhurat order from a mobile app within minutes. Yet the spirit remains the same: a small, hopeful start to a new financial year.
Samvat 2083: The New Accounting Year
Diwali marks the beginning of a new Samvat, the year in the Hindu Vikram Samvat calendar. The Muhurat session on 21 October 2025 opened Samvat 2082. So the Diwali 2026 session will mark the start of Samvat 2083.
Many brokers and market analysts use the Samvat year as a reference period, publishing 'Samvat performance' reviews of the Sensex and Nifty from one Diwali to the next. This is a cultural convention rather than a formal financial year. India's official financial year still runs from April to March.
How the Muhurat Trading Session Works
The Muhurat session follows the same broad structure as a normal market day, only compressed into a short window. Exchange circulars typically list the following segments:
- Block deal session: a short window for large negotiated trades, mostly by institutions.
- Pre-open session: orders are collected and an opening price is discovered, similar to the regular morning pre-open.
- Normal market session: about one hour of continuous trading in the segments specified in the circular.
- Closing session: a few minutes after the main window, used to determine closing prices.
- Trade modification window: brokers may get a short extra window to modify trades, as seen in the 2025 schedule.
For example, the 2022 Muhurat session had a block deal window from 5:45 to 6:00 pm, a pre-market session from 6:00 to 6:08 pm, order matching till 6:15 pm, the main session from 6:15 to 7:15 pm and a closing session till 7:25 pm. In 2025 the whole schedule moved to the afternoon. These examples show why you should always read the current year's circular.
Trades done in this session are settled like any other trades. If you buy shares, you must pay for them, and the shares reach your demat account through the normal settlement cycle, adjusted for holidays. Intraday positions are squared off as per your broker's rules for that session.
Past Muhurat Session Performance: Sensex and Nifty
Muhurat sessions often end in the green, partly because the mood is festive and partly because volumes are thin and dominated by token buying. A Business Standard review found that the Sensex and Nifty closed higher in each of the five Muhurat sessions from 2020 to 2024. In the 2025 session, both indices again ended slightly higher.
| Samvat | Session Date | Sensex Close | Nifty 50 Close |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2077 | 14 Nov 2020 | 43,638 (+0.45%) | 12,771 (+0.47%) |
| 2078 | 4 Nov 2021 | 60,067.62 (+0.49%) | 17,916.8 (+0.49%) |
| 2079 | 24 Oct 2022 | 59,831.66 (+0.88%) | 17,730.75 (+0.88%) |
| 2080 | 12 Nov 2023 | 65,259.45 (+0.55%) | 19,525.55 (+0.52%) |
| 2081 | 1 Nov 2024 | 79,724.12 (+0.42%) | 24,304.35 (+0.41%) |
| 2082 | 21 Oct 2025 | 84,426.34 (+62.97 pts) | 25,868.60 (+25.45 pts) |
These figures come from news reports: Business Standard for 2020 to 2024 and The Week for 2025. Notice how small the moves are, typically less than one percent. A one-hour session with low volume says very little about how the market will perform over the coming year. A broker quoted by Outlook Business also observed that the trading day after Muhurat has more often closed in the red, another reminder not to read too much into the festive session.
What Investors Should Keep in Mind
Muhurat Trading is a tradition, not a strategy. If you want to take part, treat it as a symbolic start and stay within your normal investment plan. Here are some practical points:
- Check the official timings: rely only on the NSE or BSE circular, or your broker's notice, not on social media posts.
- Expect thin volumes: low participation can cause sharp price swings in some stocks, and bid-ask spreads may be wider than usual.
- Use limit orders: a limit price helps you avoid buying at an unexpected price in a fast-moving one-hour window.
- Trades are real: every buy creates a payment obligation and every sell needs shares in your demat account.
- Mind the holidays: the Balipratipada holiday on 10 November 2026 can affect settlement timelines.
- Avoid 'tips': be careful with forwarded messages promising 'Muhurat picks' or guaranteed returns. A SEBI-registered adviser is the right source for personal advice.
- Think long term: many families simply add a small amount to an investment they already hold, as a ritual of continuing their long-term plan.
Common Myths About Muhurat Trading
Because the session is wrapped in tradition, several myths circulate every year. Clearing them up helps you take part with the right expectations.
- Myth: Stocks bought on Muhurat always give profits. Fact: There is no such guarantee. Returns depend on company performance and the economy, not on the date of purchase.
- Myth: Muhurat trades are only symbolic and are not settled. Fact: They are real trades with normal settlement obligations.
- Myth: The timing is the same every year. Fact: The exchanges fix the timing each year; in 2025, for instance, the session moved to the afternoon.
- Myth: A green Muhurat session predicts a good year. Fact: One hour of thin trading is not a reliable indicator of the year ahead.
Key Points for Quick Revision
- Diwali 2026 Laxmi Pujan: Sunday, 8 November 2026; Muhurat Trading is expected on this day.
- Exact 2026 timings will be announced by an NSE/BSE circular.
- Muhurat Trading started at BSE in 1957 and at NSE in 1992.
- The 2026 session marks the start of Samvat 2083.
- Market holidays: 10 November (Balipratipada) and 24 November (Guru Nanak Jayanti), 2026.
- In 2025 the session ran in the afternoon, 1:45 pm to 2:45 pm, on 21 October.
- Muhurat trades are real trades with normal settlement.
Quick Quiz: Test Your Knowledge
1. On which date does Diwali Laxmi Pujan fall in 2026?
A) 1 November 2026
B) 8 November 2026
C) 10 November 2026
D) 24 November 2026
Answer: B) 8 November 2026 Diwali Laxmi Pujan is on Sunday, 8 November 2026.
2. Which exchange began the Muhurat Trading tradition in 1957?
A) NSE
B) MCX
C) BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange)
D) NCDEX
Answer: C) BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) Reports trace the tradition to BSE in 1957; NSE adopted it in 1992.
3. Which Samvat year begins with the Diwali 2026 Muhurat session?
A) Samvat 2081
B) Samvat 2082
C) Samvat 2083
D) Samvat 2084
Answer: C) Samvat 2083 The 2025 session opened Samvat 2082, so the 2026 session opens Samvat 2083.
4. Why are Indian stock markets closed on 10 November 2026?
A) Diwali Balipratipada
B) Dussehra
C) Guru Nanak Jayanti
D) Christmas
Answer: A) Diwali Balipratipada The 2026 holiday list shows Diwali Balipratipada on Tuesday, 10 November.
5. How long is the main Muhurat trading window usually?
A) About 15 minutes
B) About one hour
C) A full trading day
D) Three hours
Answer: B) About one hour The normal market segment of the Muhurat session usually lasts about one hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When is Muhurat Trading in 2026?
Muhurat Trading is expected on Sunday, 8 November 2026, the day of Diwali Laxmi Pujan. The exact timings will be confirmed by NSE and BSE through an official circular.
2. Is Muhurat Trading a real trading session?
Yes. Although it is short and symbolic, orders placed during the session are executed on the exchange and settled like regular trades.
3. Can I trade futures and options during Muhurat Trading?
The segments open for trading are listed in each year's exchange circular. Check the 2026 circular before placing any derivatives order.
4. Is the stock market closed on Diwali 2026?
Diwali Laxmi Pujan falls on a Sunday in 2026, so apart from the special Muhurat session the market is closed that day anyway. The market is also closed on Tuesday, 10 November 2026 for Diwali Balipratipada.
5. Does a positive Muhurat session mean the market will rise all year?
No. The session is short and has low volumes, so its result is not a reliable signal of future market direction. Long-term returns depend on fundamentals.
6. Should I buy a particular stock during Muhurat Trading?
This post does not recommend any stock. If you take part, stay within your own financial plan, use limit orders and consult a SEBI-registered adviser for personal advice.
Conclusion
Muhurat Trading is a meaningful Diwali tradition that connects India's modern stock market with the age-old custom of starting new account books. In 2026, the session is expected on Sunday, 8 November, marking the beginning of Samvat 2083, with timings to be confirmed by the exchanges. Enjoy the festive spirit, but invest with the same discipline you follow on any other day: check official timings, use limit orders, avoid tips and keep your long-term goals in focus. Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not investment advice. Stock market investments are subject to market risks.
Disclaimer: This post is compiled from reliable sources for educational purposes only. Please cross-check with official publications before making decisions.
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