Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is one of the most widely celebrated occasions in the Hindu calendar. It stands for the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. Homes are cleaned and lit with diyas, and families pray to Goddess Lakshmi for wealth and wellbeing in the year ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like most festivals, Diwali comes with its own set of customs, and one of them belongs to the stock market. Every year, NSE and BSE hold a special session called Muhurat Trading, where investors place their first trades of the new Samvat year. In 2026, it takes place on Sunday, November 8, with the normal market running from 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMuhurat\u201d means an auspicious time in Hindu tradition, a period when the stars are believed to favour new beginnings. For India\u2019s business community, Diwali is also the start of a new financial year, which is why the exchanges mark it with a session of their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Muhurat Trading is a special trading session of about 70 minutes. The belief is that trading during this window brings prosperity through the year ahead. Many investors treat it as a symbolic first purchase of the year and buy shares in a company they plan to hold for the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The schedule below is from the NSE circular dated October 19, 2026. All timings are in Indian Standard Time (IST), and the equity timings are the same on NSE and BSE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Main Sessions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Other Sessions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n NSE and BSE open for a limited window on Diwali. The session runs in these parts:<\/p>\n\n\n\nSession<\/th> Start Time<\/th> End Time<\/th> Remarks<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Pre-open: Order Entry Period<\/td> 2:05 PM<\/td> 2:10 PM<\/td> Order entry, modification and cancellation for both limit and market orders<\/td><\/tr> Pre-open: Order Entry Period<\/td> 2:10 PM<\/td> 2:15 PM<\/td> Order entry, modification and cancellation only for limit orders. No modification or cancellation allowed for market orders<\/td><\/tr> Pre-open: Order Matching & Trade Confirmation Period<\/td> 2:15 PM<\/td> 2:17 PM<\/td> –<\/td><\/tr> Pre-open: Buffer Period<\/td> 2:17 PM<\/td> 2:20 PM<\/td> –<\/td><\/tr> Normal Market (Continuous Trading Session) opens<\/td> 2:20 PM<\/td> –<\/td> –<\/td><\/tr> Normal Market close, only for Closing Auction Session (CAS) securities<\/td> –<\/td> 3:15 PM<\/td> –<\/td><\/tr> Reference price calculation \/ transition from CTS to CAS<\/td> 3:15 PM<\/td> 3:20 PM<\/td> –<\/td><\/tr> CAS: Order Entry Period<\/td> 3:20 PM<\/td> 3:25 PM<\/td> Order entry, modification and cancellation for both limit and market orders<\/td><\/tr> CAS: Order Entry Period<\/td> 3:25 PM<\/td> 3:30 PM<\/td> Order entry, modification and cancellation only for limit orders. No modification or cancellation allowed for market orders<\/td><\/tr> CAS: Order Matching & Trade Confirmation Period<\/td> 3:30 PM<\/td> 3:35 PM<\/td> Order matching starts immediately after order entry ends<\/td><\/tr> CAS: Transition Period<\/td> 3:35 PM<\/td> 3:50 PM<\/td> Transition from CAS to the post-close session<\/td><\/tr> Post-close Session<\/td> 3:50 PM<\/td> 4:00 PM<\/td> –<\/td><\/tr> Normal Market close for non-CAS securities<\/td> –<\/td> 3:30 PM<\/td> –<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Session<\/th> Start Time<\/th> End Time<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Block Deal Session<\/td> 1:50 PM<\/td> 2:05 PM<\/td><\/tr> Special Pre-open Session (IPO and relisted securities)<\/td> 2:05 PM<\/td> 2:50 PM<\/td><\/tr> Normal Market for stocks in the Special Pre-open Session<\/td> 3:05 PM<\/td> 3:30 PM<\/td><\/tr> Call Auction: Illiquid Session<\/td> 2:25 PM<\/td> 3:10 PM<\/td><\/tr> Trade Modification Cut-off Time<\/td> 2:20 PM<\/td> 4:15 PM<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n How the Session Works?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
What to Keep in Mind Before You Trade<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n