Dalal Street opens for one short, symbolic hour this Sunday. The National Stock Exchange (NSE) and BSE will conduct the special Diwali Muhurat Trading session today, November 8, 2026, with continuous trading scheduled from 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM. For many investors, buying even a single share in this window is a ritual that marks the start of a new Samvat, the traditional Hindu financial year.
The timings were announced by both exchanges through circulars dated October 19. This year's session is also notable for another reason: it is the first Muhurat session since the exchanges introduced the Closing Auction Session (CAS) for determining closing prices.
Muhurat Trading 2026: Full Schedule
Here is the equity segment timetable for today, as laid out in the exchange announcements:
| Session | Timing (November 8, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Block deal window | 1:50 PM to 2:05 PM |
| Special pre-open session | 2:05 PM to 2:20 PM |
| Continuous trading (normal market) | 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM |
| Duration of main session | 70 minutes |
| Post-closing session (non-CAS stocks) | Till 3:50 PM |
| Exchanges | NSE and BSE |
| Next market holiday | Tuesday, November 10 (Diwali Balipratipada) |
During the pre-open session, orders are collected and matched to discover the opening price before regular trading begins at 2:20 PM. Commodity and currency derivatives segments also have special sessions; traders in those segments should check their broker's notice for the exact windows, as they differ slightly from equities.
What Is Muhurat Trading?
Muhurat Trading is a decades-old tradition on Indian bourses. On Diwali, when Lakshmi Puja is performed, the exchanges open for about an hour at an auspicious time chosen for the occasion. Traders traditionally worship their account books, known as chopda pujan, and place token orders in the belief that it brings prosperity through the year ahead.
Volumes are usually thin and the mood is celebratory rather than speculative. Many long-term investors use the session to start a fresh SIP, buy a stock they have been tracking, or simply add a few shares to their portfolio as a good-luck gesture.
The tradition is also closely tied to the business community's own calendar. For many traders in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra, Diwali marks the closing of old books and the opening of new ones, and the Muhurat session is the stock market's way of joining that moment.
Do Muhurat Trades Settle Normally?
Yes. This is a real trading session, not a ceremonial one. According to the exchange circulars, all trades executed during Muhurat Trading result in settlement obligations, just like trades on a normal day. If you buy shares, money will be debited and the shares will be credited as per the regular settlement cycle.
Investors should keep in mind that Tuesday, November 10, is a trading holiday for Diwali Balipratipada. Brokers have flagged that this break can affect when sale proceeds become available for reuse, so plan any fund transfers accordingly.
How to Take Part: Step by Step
- Log in early. Open your trading app before 2:00 PM to avoid last-minute login rush, which is common on Muhurat day.
- Keep funds ready. Add money to your trading account in advance, since bank transfers can be slower on a Sunday.
- Place orders in the pre-open window. You can enter orders between 2:05 PM and 2:20 PM, or trade during the continuous session from 2:20 PM.
- Prefer limit orders. Liquidity can be thin in a short session, and limit orders protect you from sudden price swings.
- Stay disciplined. Treat it as an auspicious start to long-term investing, not a day for heavy intraday bets.
What It Means for Investors
The market heads into the new Samvat after a volatile few weeks. The Nifty closed at 24,536.60 on November 5 after a sharp 2.4% rally, recovering from a steep fall in October. Analysts often caution that a single symbolic session says little about how the year will turn out; what matters more is earnings growth, interest rates and global cues, including crude oil prices and the situation in West Asia.
Still, the Muhurat hour remains one of the most-watched events on the market calendar, and a positive close is seen by many traders as a good omen. Regular trading resumes on Monday, November 9, before the market shuts again on Tuesday for Balipratipada.
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