Muhurat Trading 2026: BSE announces date and timings of special session. Check details

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ETMarkets.com

In a circular issued on Monday, October 19, the BSE released the detailed timetable for the special session, including pre-open trading, block deals, closing auctions and post-closing activities.

Unlike regular trading days, when the equity market operates between 9:15 am and 3:30 pm, Muhurat Trading takes place during a shortened special session. This year's session will be held on a Sunday.

Diwali Muhurat Trading 2026 timings

According to the BSE circular, trading members will be able to log in between 1:15 pm and 1:50 pm, followed by a block deal window from 1:50 pm to 2:05 pm.

The pre-open session will begin at 2:05 pm, with order entry for both limit and market orders permitted until 2:10 pm. Only limit orders will be accepted between 2:10 pm and 2:15 pm. The order matching and confirmation period is scheduled from 2:15 pm to 2:17 pm, followed by a buffer period until 2:20 pm.

The exchange has scheduled continuous trading from 2:20 pm to 3:30 pm, although closing-auction processes will begin during the latter part of this window.

The exchange said order entry during certain auction periods would be subject to random stoppages, in line with the prescribed trading mechanism.

Special session for IPO and newly listed stocks

The BSE has also announced separate timings for securities eligible for the special pre-open session, including IPO and re-listed stocks.

Order entry for these securities will begin at 2:05 pm and continue until 2:50 pm, followed by an order matching period from 2:50 pm to 3:05 pm. Continuous trading for these securities is scheduled between 3:05 pm and 3:30 pm.

For stocks covered under the periodic call auction mechanism, the order entry period will run from 2:25 pm to 3:10 pm, followed by matching between 3:10 pm and 3:20 pm. The closing auction schedule will begin at 3:15 pm, with reference price calculations and subsequent order entry and matching periods extending until 3:35 pm.

The BSE said the closing reference price for securities eligible for the closing auction session would be calculated using the volume-weighted average price of trades executed between 3 pm and 3:15 pm.

What is Muhurat Trading?

Muhurat Trading is a long-standing tradition in India's stock market, with exchanges conducting a special trading session during Diwali to mark an auspicious beginning for investors. The occasion is associated with Laxmi Puja, when many investors make symbolic purchases of shares as part of their Diwali celebrations.

The special session allows investors to place orders and participate in equity trading during the designated window, with trades subject to the applicable exchange rules and settlement procedures.