Muhurat trading 2026 today: Date, time, settlement rules, and other key things investors should know

The Indian stock market will open for a special one-hour Diwali muhurat trading session today, on a Sunday, as investors make their first trades in Samvat 2083 or the new Hindu financial year on the auspicious occasion of Diwali.

The age-old tradition of Muhurat Trading is a Diwali tradition that involves a short one-hour trading session marked by low volumes. This coincides with Lakshmi Puja across several parts of the country during the festival of lights.

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Diwali Muhurat Trading 2026 timing

BSE and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) announced last month that the special market session for Muhurat Trading will begin at 2.20 pm today, November 8 (Sunday(, and run until 3.30 pm.

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 as Diwali has fallen on the weekend.

The pre-open session will start 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, after which the market will open and regular trading begins. The exchanges have scheduled continuous trading from 2:20 pm to 3:30 pm, although closing-auction processes will begin during the latter part of this window.

In the commodity segment, MCX will hold its special session from 2:05 pm to 2.19 pm, while the trading session will run from 2.20 pm to 3.30 pm. The commodity exchange pointed out that contracts of all commodities and indices will be available for trading.

Also read | Muhurat Trading 2026: How to trade during the special session today to welcome Samvat 2083?

Muhurat trading 2026: Special pre-open session for IPO and newly listed stocks

The stock exchanges also announced separate timings for stocks eligible for the special pre-open session, including IPO and re-listed stocks. Order entry for these 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 the significance of Muhurat Trading?

The age-old tradition of Muhurat Trading was initiated by the Bombay Stock Exchange in 1957, and was taken up by the National Stock Exchange (NSE) since 1992. Traditionally, brokers performed Chopda Pujan, a ritualistic worship of account books, during this session to mark the auspicious start of the new financial year.

Muhurat Trading session typically coincides with Lakshmi Puja, where investors pray to Goddess Lakshmi for wealth and prosperity before placing trades.

Also read | Playing teenpatti this Diwali? Why Warren Buffett played bridge while Charlie Munger played poker

Muhurat Trading 2026: Settlement & delivery

All trades executed during this Diwali Muhurat trading session shall result in settlement obligations as per norms. NSE, in its circular, pointed out that T+1 deals can be cancelled or modified till 5 pm on settlement day.

Disclaimer: This article has been written by Debaroti Adhikary, who is not a SEBI-registered Research Analyst or an Investment Adviser. Debaroti Adhikary and his/her ‘relative(s)’ (as defined under Section 2(77) of the Companies Act, 2013) do not hold any financial interest in the companies mentioned in this article as of the date of publication. The views/recommendations mentioned in this article, wherever applicable, are those of the respective SEBI-registered Research Analyst/brokerage and have been reproduced/reported with due attribution. They should not be construed as the views or recommendations of The Economic Times Digital or the journalist. Readers are advised to consider the original research report and make their investment decisions based on their own assessment. Brokerage disclaimers here.