Diwali Muhurat Trading 2026: Date, Timing and Tips for Beginners
Diwali Muhurat Trading 2026 is on Sunday, 8 November. Here is what NSE has confirmed, how the one-hour session works, and how first-time investors can prepare.
Diwali Muhurat Trading 2026 will be held on Sunday, 8 November 2026, the day of Lakshmi Puja. NSE confirmed the date in its 2026 holiday circular, but the exact one-hour session timing is announced separately, usually a few weeks before Diwali. This guide gives you the confirmed facts, the timings used in recent years, how the session actually works, and a calm checklist for first-time investors who want to place a symbolic trade.
Key Takeaways
- Muhurat Trading 2026 is on Sunday, 8 November 2026. NSE’s 2026 holiday circular says the session timing “shall be notified subsequently”.
- Recent sessions lasted one hour: 6:15 to 7:15 PM in 2023, 6:00 to 7:00 PM in 2024, and 1:45 to 2:45 PM in 2025. Do not assume an evening slot for 2026.
- Trades in the session are normal trades. They settle like any other day’s trades, and the usual brokerage, taxes and charges apply.
- Markets are shut on Tuesday, 10 November 2026 for Diwali Balipratipada, so plan around a short trading week.
- A small, planned buy in a quality stock or index fund is the traditional approach. Leveraged F&O bets in a thin, one-hour window are not.
Updated October 2026. As of 10 October 2026, the exchanges had not published the 2026 session timing. We will treat any time you see online as an estimate until NSE or BSE issues the circular.
Muhurat Trading 2026: The Quick Answer
Here is everything that is confirmed, plus what is still pending, in one table.
| Detail | 2026 status |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, 8 November 2026 (Diwali Laxmi Pujan) |
| Source | NSE circular 212/2025 dated 12 December 2025 (trading holidays for 2026) |
| Session time | Not yet announced. NSE says timings “shall be notified subsequently” |
| Length | One hour of normal trading in recent years, with a short pre-open session before it |
| New year marked | Samvat 2083 (Vikram Samvat) begins with this Diwali |
| Next market holiday | Tuesday, 10 November 2026 (Diwali Balipratipada) |
The date comes straight from the exchange. The NSE trading holidays circular for 2026 lists 8 November 2026 as a Sunday holiday for Diwali Laxmi Pujan with the note: “Muhurat Trading will be conducted on Sunday, November 08, 2026. Timings of Muhurat Trading shall be notified subsequently.” BSE follows the same holiday calendar for the equity segment.
What Is Muhurat Trading?
Muhurat Trading is a special one-hour trading session that Indian stock exchanges hold on Diwali. In the Hindu calendar followed by many trading communities, especially in Gujarat and Maharashtra, Diwali marks the start of a new financial year. Traders traditionally close the old year’s books, perform Chopda Pujan (worship of the account books), and open the new year with a small, auspicious transaction.
The exchanges keep this tradition alive by opening the market for one hour on Diwali, even when the day is otherwise a trading holiday. The word “muhurat” means an auspicious time window, which is why the session is short and fixed.
Three things make it different from a normal day:
- It is short. One hour of normal market, plus a pre-open session before it.
- Volumes are thinner. Many institutional desks are lightly staffed, and most retail participants place token orders.
- Sentiment is festive. People buy for good luck rather than on fresh news, which can make price moves in either direction look bigger than they are.
What does not change: the trades are real. NSE’s 2025 circulars stated plainly that all trades executed in the Diwali Muhurat session result in settlement obligations. If you buy shares, you pay for them and they reach your demat account through the normal settlement cycle.
Muhurat Trading Timings in Past Years
Many websites will show you a 2026 time already. Most of those are guesses based on old sessions. The table below shows what the exchanges actually announced in the last three years, so you can see why guessing is risky.
| Year | Date | Normal market session | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Sunday, 12 November | 6:15 PM to 7:15 PM | Evening session |
| 2024 | Friday, 1 November | 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM | Evening session |
| 2025 | Tuesday, 21 October | 1:45 PM to 2:45 PM | Afternoon session, pre-open from 1:30 PM, announced on 22 September 2025 |
| 2026 | Sunday, 8 November | To be announced | Check NSE/BSE circulars and your broker’s notice |
The 2025 switch to an afternoon slot surprised many people who had planned for an evening session. Business Today’s report on the 2025 announcement covers the 1:45 PM to 2:45 PM window and the 15-minute pre-open that started at 1:30 PM. The lesson for 2026 is simple: wait for the circular, then set your reminder.
Where to check the official 2026 timing
- The circulars section of the NSE website (look for “Muhurat Trading” in the title).
- BSE notices, which are usually issued around the same time.
- Your broker’s app. Most brokers send an in-app banner or email once the timing is out.
How the Session Works, Step by Step
If you have only traded on regular days, the structure of the Muhurat session will feel familiar, just compressed. Based on recent circulars, it typically runs like this:
- Pre-open session (about 15 minutes). Orders are collected and an opening price is discovered, just like the 9:00 to 9:15 AM pre-open on a normal day. In 2025 this ran from 1:30 PM to 1:45 PM.
- Normal market (one hour). Regular buying and selling. This is the “muhurat” hour itself.
- Closing session and trade modification window. A few minutes after the bell for closing prices and broker back-office work.
Equity cash, equity derivatives, currency derivatives and commodity derivatives segments have all had Muhurat sessions in recent years, with timings published per segment. Read the circular for the segment you trade.
Settlement and the short week
In 2026, Diwali falls on a Sunday. Monday, 9 November is a normal trading day as per the NSE list, and Tuesday, 10 November is a full trading holiday for Diwali Balipratipada. A settlement holiday can push the date on which shares or funds actually land in your account. If you need sale proceeds for a specific payment that week, keep a day or two of buffer.
Is Muhurat Trading a Good Time to Invest?
This is the question most first-timers ask, and the honest answer is: it is a good time to start a habit, not a reliable time to make quick money.
Some years the market closes the session higher, some years lower. A one-hour move tells you very little about how the next year will go. Treat the session as a ritual and a reminder to review your money, not as a signal.
| Good reasons to trade in the session | Weak reasons |
|---|---|
| You already planned to buy a stock or ETF and like the symbolism of starting on Diwali | A friend or social media post promised “Muhurat multibaggers” |
| You want to make your first small investment with family and mark the occasion | You want to try options for the first time because “it is lucky” |
| You are adding to a long-term holding you have researched | You plan to sell everything the next day for a quick gain |
A Checklist for First-Time Investors
If this is your first Muhurat trade, do the boring preparation a week early. The session is only an hour, apps get busy, and nobody wants to troubleshoot a KYC issue during Lakshmi Puja.
One week before Diwali
- Log in to your trading app and confirm your account is active and KYC-compliant.
- Check that your bank account is linked and that you can add funds through UPI or net banking.
- Make a shortlist of one to three stocks, index ETFs or mutual funds you actually understand.
- Decide your budget. A token amount is perfectly traditional. Some families buy a single share.
Once the timing is announced
- Note the pre-open and normal market times in your phone calendar with an alert 15 minutes earlier.
- Add funds a day before. Late transfers on a Sunday can take longer to reflect.
- Read the broker’s notice for any order types that are restricted during the session.
During the session
- Use limit orders, not market orders. Thin volume can mean a wide gap between buy and sell prices.
- Do not chase a stock that has jumped in the first few minutes.
- Place your order, take a screenshot for the family album if you like, and step away.
A simple worked example
Here is an illustrative plan, not a recommendation. Suppose a young professional in Ahmedabad has Rs 10,000 set aside for Diwali investing. She could put Rs 5,000 into a Nifty 50 index ETF during the Muhurat hour using a limit order, and start a Rs 2,500 monthly SIP in a diversified mutual fund the next working day. The remaining Rs 2,500 stays in her savings account as a buffer. The Diwali trade is the symbolic start; the SIP does the real work over the year.
Mistakes to Avoid During Muhurat Trading
- Trading F&O on a whim. Futures and options carry leverage. In a one-hour session with festive sentiment, a small move can create a large loss. If you do not trade derivatives on normal days, do not start on Diwali.
- Following tips from unknown channels. Telegram and WhatsApp “Diwali picks” groups multiply around this time. Many are run by unregistered people. SEBI’s investor website, investor.sebi.gov.in, publishes warnings on fake trading apps and so-called stock market gurus. Read them before you act on any tip.
- Using market orders in illiquid stocks. Small-cap stocks can trade very little in this window. A market order may fill at a price far from what you saw.
- Ignoring costs. Brokerage, securities transaction tax, exchange charges, GST and stamp duty apply as usual. On a Rs 500 trade, fixed charges can eat a noticeable share.
- Forgetting the holiday on 10 November. If you plan to sell on the next working day, remember that only Monday sits between Diwali and the Balipratipada holiday.
Muhurat Trading and Other Diwali Money Rituals
Muhurat Trading is one of several money traditions that cluster around Diwali. Many families buy gold or silver on Dhanteras, worship account books on Lakshmi Puja, and start new ledgers. If you are weighing a Dhanteras gold purchase against a market investment, our comparison of physical gold, digital gold, gold ETFs and SGBs lays out the costs and trade-offs. For a wider view of where a small monthly amount can go, see SIP vs FD vs PPF for Rs 5,000 a month.
And for the full festival week, our Diwali 2026 calendar covers every date from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj.
A note for businesses and brokers
If you run a brokerage, wealth firm or fintech app, Muhurat Trading is one of the few days when retail investors actively look for information. Clear, early communication about timing, settlement and charges builds more trust than a flashy “lucky stocks” campaign. Any public communication about the session, such as an announcement or a press release, should stick to verified exchange timings and carry proper risk disclosures.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not investment advice. Markets carry risk, and past session behaviour does not predict future returns. Rules and timings change, so check the official NSE/BSE circulars and speak to a SEBI-registered investment adviser before making investment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the date of Muhurat Trading in 2026?
Muhurat Trading 2026 is on Sunday, 8 November 2026, which is Diwali Laxmi Pujan. NSE confirmed the date in its holiday circular for 2026 dated 12 December 2025.
What is the Muhurat Trading time for 2026?
As of 10 October 2026, the exchanges had not announced it. NSE’s circular says the timing will be notified later. In 2025 the session ran from 1:45 PM to 2:45 PM, and in 2024 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, so check the 2026 circular rather than assuming either slot.
Do Muhurat trades settle like normal trades?
Yes. The trades are real and create normal settlement obligations. Shares you buy are delivered to your demat account and money is debited as on any trading day, subject to settlement holidays.
Can I trade futures and options during Muhurat Trading?
The derivatives segment has had a Muhurat session in recent years, with timings in a separate circular. Whether you should is another matter. Leverage plus thin, festive trading makes it a poor place for first-time derivatives trades.
Is the stock market open on 9 and 10 November 2026?
Monday, 9 November is not on NSE’s 2026 holiday list, so it is a normal trading day. Tuesday, 10 November 2026 is a trading holiday for Diwali Balipratipada.
Which shares should I buy in Muhurat Trading?
There is no “lucky” stock. Buy only what you would be comfortable holding for years, ideally something you have already researched, such as a large company or a broad index ETF. For a personal plan, consult a SEBI-registered investment adviser.
Start Samvat 2083 With a Plan
The best Muhurat trade is a small, deliberate one backed by a plan for the rest of the year. Put a reminder in your phone to check the NSE circular, get your account ready a week early, keep the trade modest, and use the festive mood to set up the habit that matters more: regular investing, reviewed once or twice a year. Shubh Deepavali.
