Diwali Muhurat Trading 2026, Samvat 2083: Date, timings, history, settlement rules, more - Top 10 things for investors
Muhurat Trading 2026: Every year, on the auspicious occasion of Diwali, the Indian stock exchanges open especially for one hour for a special trading session in the evening. This special hour of trading is known as 'muhurat trading'. The word Muhurat itself stands for ‘auspicious’.
This year, the Indian stock market will open for a special trading session on Sunday, November 8, as BSE, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and commodity exchange MCX continue the long-standing tradition of Diwali Muhurat Trading.
Marking the beginning of Samvat 2083, or the new Hindu financial year, the one-hour session holds special significance for investors and traders who consider it an auspicious occasion to begin the year with a symbolic investment.
Although trading volumes are generally lower than on regular market days, the session attracts participation from investors looking to honour the tradition of buying stocks during Lakshmi Puja.
Muhurat Trading will take place on Sunday, November 8, coinciding with Diwali and Lakshmi Puja. The session will mark the beginning of Samvat 2083.
The main equity Muhurat Trading session will run from 2:20 pm to 3:30 pm. Unlike regular trading days, when markets operate from 9:15 am to 3:30 pm, this will be a special one-hour session.
The pre-open session will start at 2:05 pm. Investors can place limit and market orders until 2:10 pm, while only limit orders will be accepted between 2:10 pm and 2:15 pm. Order matching and confirmation will take place from 2:15 pm to 2:17 pm, followed by a buffer period until 2:20 pm.
MCX will conduct its special session from 2:05 pm to 2:19 pm, followed by the main trading session from 2:20 pm to 3:30 pm. Contracts across all commodities and indices will be available for trading.
BSE has announced separate timings for securities eligible for the special pre-open session, including IPO and relisted stocks. Order entry will begin at 2:05 pm and continue until 2:50 pm. Order matching will take place between 2:50 pm and 3:05 pm, followed by continuous trading from 3:05 pm to 3:30 pm.
For securities covered under the periodic call auction mechanism, order entry will run from 2:25 pm to 3:10 pm, followed by order matching between 3:10 pm and 3:20 pm.
The closing auction process will begin at 3:15 pm, with reference price calculations and subsequent order entry and matching extending until 3:35 pm. BSE said the closing reference price for eligible securities would be calculated using the volume-weighted average price (VWAP) of trades executed between 3 pm and 3:15 pm.
The Bombay Stock Exchange introduced Muhurat Trading in 1957, while the NSE continued the tradition from 1992. Historically, brokers performed Chopda Pujan, a ritual involving the worship of account books, to mark the auspicious beginning of the new financial year.
Trades executed during the special session will result in settlement obligations under the applicable exchange norms. According to the NSE circular, T+1 deals can be cancelled or modified until 5 pm on the settlement day.
Muhurat Trading is traditionally associated with symbolic purchases rather than major investment decisions. Investors often buy a few shares as a token of good fortune, sometimes holding them for years or even passing them on to their children. Traders may also use the session to book intraday profits.
However, the occasion can also serve as an opportunity to review portfolios, rebalance holdings, and assess investment goals at the start of Samvat 2083. Investors should base their decisions on valuations, financial performance and risk appetite rather than treating the auspicious occasion as a substitute for investment research.
Pranati Deva is a seasoned financial journalist with over a decade of experience in high-pressure newsroom environments, currently working as a Senior Sub Editor at LiveMint. Over the years, she has developed a reputation for sharp editorial judgement, a strong grasp of market dynamics, and the ability to translate complex financial developments into clear, engaging stories for a wide audience. <br><br> Her core areas of coverage include stock markets, leading listed companies, currencies, and commodities, with a particular strength in fast-paced, real-time market reporting. She is known for handling breaking market news, earnings-driven stock movements, and macroeconomic developments with speed, accuracy, and context—qualities that are essential in financial journalism. <br><br> Pranati has built a diverse and credible professional track record across some of India’s most respected news organisations, including MintGenie, CNBC-TV18, Business Standard and EconomicTimes.com. During her stints at these platforms, she produced data-driven market stories, curated and steered live blogs during volatile trading sessions, and conducted interviews with market veterans, fund managers, economists, and industry experts. Her work often combines on-ground reporting with analytical depth, helping readers make sense of daily market fluctuations and longer-term trends. An alumnus of the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communications and Hansraj College, University of Delhi, Pranati brings a strong academic foundation to her journalism. She specialises in real-time financial reporting, with a keen focus on precision, balance, and insight, aiming to decode market movements in a way that is both informative and accessible to readers across experience levels.
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HomeMarketsStock MarketsDiwali Muhurat Trading 2026, Samvat 2083: Date, timings, history, settlement rules, more - Top 10 things for investors
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