BSE and NSE Schedule Diwali 2026 Muhurat Trading for November 8 Between 2:20 PM and 3:30 PM
Indian benchmark exchanges, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), alongside commodity derivative bourse Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX), have finalised the schedule for the special Diwali Muhurat trading session on Sunday, November 8, 2026. The ritualistic session will commemorate Lakshmi Puja and mark the official beginning of the Hindu calendar year, Samvat 2083.
While regular market operations remain shut on Sundays, domestic bourses observe an annual exception for Muhurat trading, allowing market participants to execute token investments and inaugurate their financial ledgers for the upcoming year.
Equity and F&O Session Timings
According to exchange notifications, regular trading activity across the equity and derivative segments will occur in an afternoon window rather than the traditional evening slot:
Key Timelines for Equity and Derivatives:
- Block Deal Window: 1:50 pm to 2:05 pm.
- Pre-Open Session: 2:05 pm to 2:20 pm, with order placement for limit and market orders closing at 2:10 pm, followed by limit-only entries until 2:15 pm and subsequent matching.
- Continuous Equity Trading (Non-CAS): 2:20 pm to 3:30 pm.
- Closing Auction Session (CAS) Stocks: Normal trading terminates at 3:15 pm, after which the closing price auction runs until 3:35 pm.
- Equity Derivatives (F&O): 2:20 pm to 3:40 pm.
Commodity Trading on MCX
The Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) will mirror the equities schedule for its commodity contracts. The commodity pre-open session is slated from 2:05 pm to 2:19 pm, and the special live trading session will run continuously from 2:20 pm to 3:30 pm. Contracts spanning bullion, base metals, energy, and agri-commodities will remain accessible to participants during this one-hour-and-ten-minute window.
Operational Guidelines and Settlement Rules
Brokerages and market infrastructure institutions have issued specific advisories regarding trade mechanics during the weekend session:
Important Operational Rules for Investors:
- Settlement Obligations: All trades executed during the Muhurat trading window result in firm settlement obligations and will settle on Monday, November 9, 2026, alongside transactions from Friday, November 6.
- Intraday Positions: Most retail brokerages will initiate automated intraday square-offs (MIS/Cover Orders) around 3:05 pm to ensure market-clearing before the closing bell.
- BTST Restrictions: Buy Today, Sell Tomorrow (BTST) facilities will remain restricted; shares purchased on Friday, November 6, will not be available for offloading during the Sunday session.
- Banking Operations: Because commercial banks remain closed on Sunday, instant and standard fund withdrawal requests will not process on November 8, prompting market intermediaries to advise traders to fund accounts in advance.
Historical Significance
The tradition of Muhurat trading originated on the Bombay Stock Exchange in 1957, creating an avenue for Gujarati and Marwari mercantile communities to close traditional ledger books (Chopda Pujan) and initiate new accounts under the auspicious auspices of Goddess Lakshmi. The National Stock Exchange adopted the practice in 1992. By 2026, the tradition marks 69 years at the BSE and 34 years at the NSE.
Market strategists caution that despite positive investor sentiment and historic upward bias during festive sessions, the trading window is characterised by compressed liquidity and brief spikes in volatility. Long-term investors are encouraged to adhere strictly to underlying company fundamentals rather than speculative momentum when placing orders.
