A short trading session on Diwali has become a tradition for Indian stock-market participants. Some investors buy a small quantity of shares as a symbolic start to the year; others simply watch the opening bell.
In either case, the practical questions are the same: what time will NSE and BSE open, which orders can you place, and what will the trade cost?
Muhurat Trading 2026 takes place on Sunday, 8 November 2026. The equity pre-open runs from 2:05 PM to 2:20 PM IST, and continuous trading begins at 2:20 PM.
The end time is not identical for every security: stocks subject to the Closing Auction Session (CAS) stop continuous trading at 3:15 PM, other cash-market stocks at 3:30 PM, and equity futures and options at 3:40 PM.
These details matter more than the usual one-line “market open” headline.
Muhurat Trading 2026 Date and Timings: NSE and BSE
The exchanges’ detailed schedules, announced in October 2026, set the special session for Diwali Laxmi Pujan on Sunday, 8 November. All times below are Indian Standard Time (IST).
| Session / security | Start | End | What it means |
| Block deal window | 1:50 PM | 2:05 PM | Special facility for eligible block transactions |
| Equity regular pre-open | 2:05 PM | 2:20 PM | Order entry, matching and buffer period |
| Cash equity: CAS stocks | 2:20 PM | 3:15 PM | Continuous trading before closing-auction process |
| Cash equity: non-CAS stocks | 2:20 PM | 3:30 PM | Continuous trading window |
| Closing auction for CAS stocks | 3:15 PM | 3:35 PM | Transition, order entry and matching |
| Equity futures and options | 2:20 PM | 3:40 PM | Derivatives trading window |
| Currency / commodity derivatives | 2:20 PM | 3:30 PM | Check relevant contract and broker rules |
| Post-closing session | 3:50 PM | 4:00 PM | Exchange post-close process |
A CAS stock is a cash-market security covered by the Closing Auction Session, initially including stocks with available derivatives. In the pre-open, the order-entry and order-type rules change during the 2:05–2:20 PM window.
Sessions for IPO/relisted and illiquid securities have their own procedures; check the relevant exchange circular before trading them.
Why do some websites say 3:30 PM and others say 3:40 PM?
Because they may be referring to different market segments. The frequently quoted 2:20–3:30 PM time describes continuous trading in non-CAS cash-market securities.
Equity derivatives trade until 3:40 PM, while some cash securities move into a closing auction earlier. If your order is for a particular stock, confirm its eligibility and session on the broker’s order screen.
What Is Muhurat Trading, and Why Is It Held on Diwali?
Muhurat Trading is a special live exchange session held during Diwali. It stems from the custom of beginning the financial year, or a new accounting cycle, on an auspicious note.
The event is culturally significant, but it is also a real market session: prices change, orders are matched, trades are binding and settlement obligations arise.
The symbolism does not make a share cheaper, a company stronger, or an options position safer.
A stock can fall during the session, and Diwali price movements do not reliably predict returns for the year ahead. Treat the occasion as a calendar event, not a trading strategy.
Can a Beginner Buy Shares During Muhurat Trading?
Yes, as long as your trading and demat accounts are active, your broker allows the order, and the security is eligible for trading in that session.
For shares bought for delivery, the shares are eventually credited to the linked demat account through the normal settlement process, subject to the applicable settlement calendar.
If this is your first equity purchase, our guide to the best demat accounts in India explains how account maintenance, depository charges and delivery brokerage differ.
A working trading login alone doesn’t mean you’ve completed all the account-opening and KYC steps.
How to place a Muhurat Trading order: a practical walkthrough
- Before 8 November, confirm your trading account, KYC, linked bank account and available funds. Add the intended security to your watchlist while the market is closed.
- On the day, check your broker’s notice for the exact session, supported segments and any holiday-specific order restrictions or auto-square-off times.
- Open the order ticket and distinguish delivery/CNC from intraday/MIS where applicable. A delivery order aims to hold shares; an intraday order is intended to close during the session.
- Review the bid, ask, quantity, and estimated total value. A limit order lets you set the maximum buying price, but it may not execute.
- Check the order status after submitting. A placed order is not necessarily an executed trade; partial fills and rejections are possible.
- After execution, check the contract note, brokerage, statutory charges and settlement/holding status rather than assuming the full order value represents your final cost.
Which Order Type Makes Sense in a Short Session?
Market orders prioritise execution over a particular price; limit orders set a price boundary but can remain pending. In a brief session, wide spreads and a sudden burst of orders can make the difference.
Stop-loss, GTT, after-market orders, margin products, and specific intraday facilities may not behave the same across brokers or trading segments during the holiday session.
A sensible learning exercise is to observe live bid and offer prices without submitting anything.
If you are comparing order-entry workflows, Finec’s article on the best trading apps in India explains differences in order controls, charting, and platform usability.
Muhurat Trading Brokerage Charges in 2026
Muhurat Trading is not automatically brokerage-free. The standard brokerage your broker charges usually depends on your plan, order type, and segment.
Some firms later announce a festival waiver or reverse eligible brokerage; that is a commercial offer, not an exchange-wide rule.
Zerodha has specifically announced a brokerage reversal for eligible Muhurat-session trades in 2026, including intraday, F&O, commodity, and MTF transactions.
It is worth reading the conditions, because a brokerage reversal does not necessarily remove STT/CTT, GST (where applicable), exchange transaction charges, SEBI fees, stamp duty, DP debits, or other costs.
| Broker / representative plan | Delivery brokerage | Intraday equity brokerage | F&O headline |
| Zerodha (resident retail) | ₹0 | 0.03% or ₹20/order, lower | Futures 0.03% or ₹20; options ₹20 |
| Dhan (resident retail) | ₹0 | 0.03% or ₹20/order, lower | Typically ₹20/order |
| Groww (standard equity) | Lower of ₹20 or 0.1%; minimum ₹5 | Lower of ₹20 or 0.1%; minimum ₹5 | ₹20/order |
| Upstox (standard headline) | ₹20/order | Lower of ₹20 or 0.1% | Options ₹20/order; futures plan-based capped charge |
| Kotak Neo Trade Free (after intro) | 0.20% | Lower of ₹10 or 0.05% | ₹10/order on eligible plan |
These are indicative published resident-account headline tariffs, not guaranteed Muhurat-session charges. Standard plans and introductory offers differ. Data baseline: 29 October 2026.
Verify the live broker tariff and special-session notice; GST/statutory levies, DP fees, other charges and promotional reversals are excluded.
Example: what does a ₹50,000 intraday trade cost in brokerage?
Imagine one ₹50,000 buy order and one ₹50,000 sell order, both executed under normal published intraday tariffs. A 0.03% (or ₹ 20) broker charges ₹15 on each side, or ₹30 in brokerage.
A flat ₹20-per-order broker charges ₹40 across both orders. A ₹10 cap could mean ₹20 across both orders. This example excludes market movements, taxes, exchange charges and any festival-specific brokerage reversals.
The calculation is not a reason to trade more frequently. To understand the other line items on the contract note, read how brokerage and other trading charges are calculated.
Are Intraday, Futures and Options Allowed During Muhurat Trading?
The special session includes equity derivatives and other notified segments, but available products, order types, margin requirements, strike availability and broker-level restrictions can vary.
The equity F&O window extends to 3:40 PM in 2026; a broker may square off certain intraday products before the exchange closes.
For example, Zerodha has published an earlier automatic square-off cut-off for specified F&O and intraday products.
Options and futures involve leverage, expiry dynamics, liquidity constraints and potentially large losses. A holiday session does not change those risks.
Readers new to derivatives can start with the explanations in Finec’s F&O trading guide rather than treating the festival as a chance to test a new leveraged strategy.
Five Risks That Get Overlooked During Muhurat Trading
- Spread and liquidity: The best displayed buy and sell prices may be further apart than expected, particularly in less actively traded securities.
- Price volatility: A short session can produce quick price changes without establishing a lasting trend.
- Execution assumptions: A limit order may not fill; a market order may fill at a less favourable price.
- Intraday cut-offs: Broker square-off rules can be earlier than the notified market close and may differ by product.
- Unverified stock tips: Festival-themed messages promising “sure-shot Diwali returns” are a warning sign, not research.
If a purported adviser promises guaranteed returns, asks you to transfer money outside recognised payment channels or impersonates a broker, Finec’s guide on how to report stock-market fraud in India explains the appropriate complaint routes.
Does the Market Usually Rise During Muhurat Trading?
Individual historical sessions can close green or red, but small sample sizes and one-off conditions make these results weak evidence for investment decisions.
A festival session is not a statistically dependable signal for the next trading day or the next Samvat year. Company fundamentals, earnings, valuations, and investor goals remain more useful inputs for long-term decisions.
Muhurat Trading 2026 FAQs
What is the Muhurat Trading date in 2026?
Sunday, 8 November 2026, on Diwali Laxmi Pujan.
What time does Muhurat Trading start on NSE and BSE?
The equity pre-open starts at 2:05 PM IST, and continuous trading begins at 2:20 PM IST.
What time does Muhurat Trading close?
Non-CAS cash-market trading ends at 3:30 PM, CAS securities enter their closing-auction process at 3:15 PM, and equity derivatives trade until 3:40 PM. Other segments can follow separate schedules.
Is Muhurat Trading brokerage-free?
Not as a universal rule. Charges depend on your broker and plan. Some brokers publish festive fee waivers or reversal offers, but statutory and depository charges may still apply.
Do trades settle even though the session is on a Sunday?
Yes. The trades are real and create settlement obligations. The applicable settlement calendar—not the fact that the session is symbolic—governs the credit of cash or securities.
Is it compulsory to buy a share on Diwali?
No. Participation is entirely optional, and the date offers no guaranteed investment advantage.
The Bottom Line
Muhurat Trading 2026 is a short, genuine exchange session on Sunday, 8 November. Use the correct segment timetable, understand your broker’s charges and order rules, and treat the occasion as a tradition rather than a shortcut to returns.
The most useful Diwali trade can also be deciding not to place an order that doesn’t fit your plan.
Sources and Verification
Official exchange notices, publicly available broker schedules and the exchange holiday calendar informed the dates, trading windows and settlement explanation. The session and plan details are stated as of 29 October 2026.
- NSE 2026 holiday calendar: https://www.nseindia.com/resources/exchange-communication-holidays
- NSE derivatives segment circular 142/2026 (republished extract): https://www.compliedai.com/updates/nse/muhurat-trading-session-on-account-of-diwali-gunjyd
- Detailed exchange schedule and closing-auction times: https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/markets/bse-nse-set-november-8-muhurat-trading-session-from-2-20-pm-to-3-30-pm-14055595.html
- Zerodha November 2026 Muhurat session and brokerage announcement: https://zerodha.com/marketintel/bulletin/461711/muhurat-trading-session-on-account-of-diwali-november-2026
Disclaimer: This article is for general financial education. It does not recommend any security, product or trading strategy. Market investments and derivatives involve risk; charges and exchange arrangements can change.
