NEW DELHI: Diwali festivities have begun, and investors are wondering when stock markets will remain open and closed for trading. The festival brings with it a series of celebrations, from Dhanteras and Naraka Chaturdashi to Diwali, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj.Amid the festive rush, investors looking to make their traditional Diwali investments may also want to keep an eye on the stock market calendar. Dalal Street will follow a slightly different schedule over the festive weekend, with a special Sunday trading session planned to mark the occasion.When will Dalal Street remain open and closed for tradingOn Dhanteras, November 6, stock market will remain open, following its usual routine.On November 7, Saturday, stock markets will remain closed for the usual weekend break.Trading will resume on Sunday, November 8, for the traditional Diwali Muhurat Trading session. The one-hour trading window will give investors an opportunity to mark the beginning of the Hindu financial year, Samvat 2083, with their customary Diwali trades.So, while markets will remain open for this special session, investors should note that regular trading hours will not apply.
Muhurat Trading: Schedule for Sunday
The special session will begin with the pre-open period at 2:05 pm. Investors will be allowed to place both limit and market orders until 2:10 pm. From 2:10 pm to 2:15 pm, only limit orders will be accepted.The order matching and confirmation period will follow between 2:15 pm and 2:17 pm. A buffer period has been scheduled from 2:17 pm to 2:20 pm, after which regular trading will begin.Continuous trading will take place from 2:20 pm to 3:30 pm. The exchanges have also scheduled closing-auction processes during the latter part of this trading window.The next scheduled trading holiday after the special Sunday session will be Tuesday, November 10, on account of Diwali-Balipratipada.
MCX timings and agricultural commodity trading
MCX will continue to trade as usual during the Diwali festivities, with regular trading sessions on Dhanteras. The commodity market will remain closed on Saturday, as per its usual schedule.Like Dalal Street, MCX will also conduct a special Muhurat trading session on Sunday, November 8, 2026. The timings for the session will be announced later.The exchange will observe the Diwali-Balipratipada holiday on Tuesday, November 10 when trading will remain closed during the morning session but resume in the evening session.Trading sessions
- Morning session: 9 am to 5 pm
- Evening session: 5 pm to 11:30 pm / 11:55 pm
Why Muhurat Trading is held on Diwali
Muhurat Trading is an age-old tradition that was started by the Bombay Stock Exchange in 1957 and later adopted by the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in 1992.The session has traditionally been associated with Chopda Pujan, during which brokers worship their account books to mark the auspicious beginning of a new financial year. It coincides with Lakshmi Puja, when investors pray to Goddess Lakshmi for wealth and prosperity before participating in the market.Following the special trading session on Sunday, the next stock market holiday will be on Tuesday, November 10, for Diwali-Balipratipada. According to the holiday schedule, the equity segment will remain closed on this day, while the commodity segment will remain open.Diwali-Balipratipada falls on the fourth day of Diwali and is celebrated in some parts of the country to mark the notional return of the daitya king Bali to earth. The lunar fortnight begins from this day.
