Muhurat Trading 2026: Stock Markets To Open For One Hour On Sunday, November 8 – Check NSE, BSE Timings
The NSE has fixed Diwali Muhurat trading for Sunday, November 8, 2026, with the main session running from 2:20 pm to 3:30 pm.
Photo: BSEINDIA / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pune, 29th October 2026: This year’s Diwali Muhurat trading will be held on Sunday, November 8, 2026, the day of Lakshmi Pujan. And if you remember it as an evening session, note the change: it’s in the afternoon this time.
According to the NSE circular, the pre-open session runs from 2:05 pm to 2:20 pm and normal trading from 2:20 pm to 3:30 pm.
Full session timings
- Pre-open: 2:05 pm to 2:20 pm
- Normal market: 2:20 pm to 3:30 pm
- Closing auction session: 3:15 pm to 3:35 pm
- Closing session: 3:30 pm to 3:50 pm
- Post-closing: 3:50 pm to 4:00 pm
Why people trade on Diwali
Muhurat trading is a token session that marks the start of the new Samvat year. For many traditional investors, including a good number in Pune’s old city, buying a few shares on this day is about as much a ritual as the puja itself. Ask most brokers and they’ll tell you it’s more about sentiment than serious profit.
The trades are real, though. They settle like any other trade, so if you buy for delivery you have to pay for the shares, and intraday positions get squared off at the end of the session.
What usually happens
Volumes are thin because many big investors sit it out, and prices can jump around within minutes. Over the past several years, the Sensex and Nifty have ended the session in the green more often than not, but usually by small margins.
Most market experts advise retail investors not to try and make a quick buck in a one-hour window. If you want to mark the day, buying a small quantity of a stock or fund you were planning to hold anyway is the more sensible way.
If it’s your first time
Log in to your trading app before 2 pm and make sure your funds have come through, because payment gateways can be slow during the festive rush. Use limit orders rather than market orders; with thin volumes, prices can move away from you. Don’t borrow or trade on margin for a festive session. Exchanges usually stay shut for Balipratipada, so check your broker’s holiday calendar for the next trading day.
This article is for information only and is not investment advice. Please consult a SEBI-registered adviser before investing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is Muhurat trading in 2026?
Muhurat trading in 2026 is on Sunday, November 8, with the normal session from 2:20 pm to 3:30 pm.
Is Muhurat trading held on both NSE and BSE?
Yes. Both exchanges hold the special session on Diwali, and trades are settled in the normal way.
Can I buy mutual funds during Muhurat trading?
You can place mutual fund orders, but they are processed at the applicable NAV as per the fund house’s cut-off rules, not during the one-hour stock market session.
