Muhurat Trading 2026 on November 8: Session Timings and How the Diwali Ritual Works

Indian stock exchanges will open for their annual Diwali Muhurat Trading session on Sunday, November 8, 2026. The one-hour session marks the start of Samvat 2083, the new Hindu calendar year that many traders and business families treat as the beginning of a new financial year.

Muhurat Trading 2026 schedule

According to the session schedule set out in the NSE circular, as reported by market platforms, the timings on Sunday, November 8, 2026 are:

• Block deal window: 1:50 pm to 2:05 pm
• Pre-open session: 2:05 pm to 2:20 pm
• Normal market (the Muhurat session): 2:20 pm to 3:20 pm
• Closing auction session: 3:20 pm to 3:30 pm

Both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and BSE will hold the session. Investors should check their broker's app for any changes to order windows on the day, since brokers sometimes set their own cut-offs.

Why is it an afternoon session this year?

Muhurat Trading used to be held in the evening on Diwali. In recent years the exchanges have moved it to the afternoon; in 2025, the session was also held in the afternoon, on October 21, 2025. The timing is fixed by the exchanges each year around an auspicious window on Lakshmi Puja day.

What Muhurat Trading means

Muhurat means an auspicious time. For generations, trading communities in India have begun the new year by worshipping new account books, a ritual known as Chopda Puja, on Diwali. Muhurat Trading carries that tradition into the stock market: many investors place a small, symbolic buy order, often in a stock they plan to hold for the long term, as a token of good luck for the year ahead.

The session is short and trading volumes are usually lower than on a normal day. Price moves in a single Muhurat session say little about how the market will perform over the rest of the year.

Things to keep in mind

• Trades made during Muhurat Trading are real trades. They carry the same settlement obligations as trades on any other day, so make sure you have the funds or shares needed.
• Liquidity can be thin in smaller stocks during the short window. Use limit orders rather than market orders to avoid buying at an unexpected price.
• Do not trade only because the day is considered auspicious. Buy what fits your goals and risk appetite, and avoid leveraged bets.
• Be wary of social media tips promising guaranteed Muhurat gains. Check that any adviser is registered with SEBI before acting on advice.

Samvat 2083 and the long view

Market commentators often publish Muhurat stock picks for the new Samvat year. Such lists are opinions, not guarantees. For most retail investors, a disciplined approach, such as regular investing through SIPs, diversification across asset classes and a long holding period, matters far more than the timing of a single trade on Diwali.

VoxyTalksy is not a financial adviser. This article is for general information only; please consult a SEBI-registered adviser before making investment decisions.