Muhurat Trading 2026: Date, NSE & BSE Timings Explained

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, celebrates the victory of light over darkness and is seen by many families as a time for fresh beginnings. Along with lighting diyas and offering prayers, some people mark the occasion by beginning something new with their money. The stock market has its own Diwali tradition: Muhurat trading.

In 2026, the NSE and BSE will hold this special session on Sunday, November 8. Share trading begins at 2:20 PM IST. Here is what the tradition means, the exact market timings and what investors should check before placing an order.

Muhurat Trading 2026: Date and NSE/BSE Timings

Muhurat trading will take place on Sunday, November 8, 2026. Both NSE and BSE have scheduled the main equity trading session to begin at 2:20 PM IST.

The simple timing to remember is 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM. That is the main trading window for shares that are not part of the Closing Auction Session (CAS). For shares included in CAS, normal trading ends earlier, at 3:15 PM. Those shares then move to a separate closing auction.

What is CAS? Some shares, including those with futures and options contracts, go through a closing auction to help determine their closing price. Instead of regular trading continuing until 3:30 PM, these shares stop normal trading at 3:15 PM and follow the auction schedule shown above.

The times in the table are for buying and selling shares, not every type of trade. NSE and BSE equity futures and options have a separate session running from 2:20 PM to 3:40 PM IST. Some newly listed and less frequently traded shares also have different windows. For other market segments, check the relevant exchange timetable.

For other exchange holidays around Diwali, see the stock market holidays calendar.

What Is Muhurat Trading and Why Is It Held on Diwali?

Muhurat trading is a special stock market session held during Diwali, a day considered auspicious by many Indians. The word muhurat refers to a favourable or auspicious time for starting an activity.

Diwali is associated with Goddess Lakshmi, prosperity and the beginning of a new Samvat year. Traditionally, some business families mark this period by opening new account books or beginning new financial activities. Buying a few shares during Muhurat trading is one way investors take part in that custom.

The purchase may have personal or religious meaning, but it remains a normal investment. A share does not become more valuable simply because it was bought during an auspicious session.

How Does Muhurat Trading Work?

Muhurat trading works much like trading on a regular market day, except that the market is open for a shorter period. You can place an order through your broker, and it gets executed only when a matching buyer or seller is available.

These are real trades. If you purchase shares, you must pay for them; if you sell, you must deliver the shares according to the exchange and broker rules. The usual settlement obligations still apply, although the exact settlement date may be affected by exchange and clearing holidays.

You can choose to take delivery of shares and hold them in your demat account. Intraday trading, where a position is opened and closed on the same day, may also be available, subject to your broker's special-session rules and earlier cut-off times.

One thing to remember is that placing an order is not the same as completing a trade. An order can remain unfilled or be executed only partly. Always check its final status in the app.

How to Participate in Muhurat Trading 2026

You do not need a special Muhurat trading account. If your regular trading account is active and your broker supports the session, you can participate using the same account.

1. Keep your account ready. Make sure your trading and demat accounts are active and any required verification is complete.
2. Check your available money. Decide how much you are comfortable investing and check the balance available for trading.
3. Choose what you want to invest in beforehand. Understand the company, its business and the risks rather than picking a stock at the last minute.
4. Review and place the order. Check the stock name, exchange, quantity, price and delivery or intraday option. Then check whether the order was actually executed.

Pay attention to the type of stock market order you select. A market order tries to trade at the best price currently available, which may differ from the price you saw a moment earlier. A limit order lets you set the highest price you are willing to pay when buying, but it may not get executed if nobody is willing to sell at that price.

What Should Investors Know Before Investing on Muhurat Trading Day?

Muhurat trading can be a meaningful way to begin or continue an investment habit. But the short session should not become a reason to make a decision you would otherwise avoid.

Start with the company. Do you understand what it does, how it earns money and what could affect its profits? Then look at the share price. Even a good business can be a disappointing investment when its shares are bought at an unreasonable price.

Next, consider how much you are investing. A symbolic purchase does not have to be a large one. If you already own several companies from the same sector, adding another may increase your dependence on that sector.

Finally, remember that a short session can have fewer buyers and sellers in some shares. The price at which your order is executed may be different from the price you expected, particularly if you choose a market order.