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About Muhurat Trading

Muhurat Trading is a special one-hour trading session held by NSE and BSE on the day of Diwali. Investors take part in this session to begin the new year with a symbolic investment in the Indian stock market. It also marks the start of the new Samvat year, the Hindu calendar year that begins on Diwali 2026 marks the beginning of Samvat 2083.

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Muhurat Trading Date: 8 November 2026
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Muhurat Trading Time: 2.20 pm to 3.30pm

Stock Picks For Samvat 2083

Register now to get research-backed Muhurat Trading Picks from ICICI Direct, once they are released.

Muhurat Trading Schedule

Details Start time End time
Block Deal Session (large pre-agreed deals)
 1:50 PM 2:05 PM
Pre-open: place, change or cancel any order
 2:05 PM 2:10 PM
Pre-open: for limit orders only
 2:10 PM 2:15 PM
Pre-open: orders matched, opening price set
 2:15 PM 2:17 PM
Pre-open: buffer period
 2:17 PM 2:20 PM
Normal Market (main trading hour)
 2:20 PM 3:15 PM / 3:30 PM*
Closing Auction Session (CAS): place, change or cancel any order
 3:20 PM 3:25 PM
Closing Auction Session (CAS): limit orders only
 3:25 PM 3:30 PM
Post-close Session (trade at closing price)
 3:50 PM 4:00 PM
Special Pre-open (new IPO and relisted stocks)
 2:05 PM 2:50 PM
Normal Market for new IPO and relisted stocks
 3:05 PM 3:30 PM
Call Auction (illiquid stocks)
 2:25 PM 3:10 PM
Shares/money from Muhurat trades credited
 – 9:00 PM (9 Nov)

*3:15 PM for stocks in the Closing Auction, 3:30 PM for all other stocks.

Source: NSE

Details Start time End time
Pre-open: place, change or cancel any order
 2:05 PM 2:10 PM
Pre-open: limit orders only
 2:10 PM 2:15 PM
Pre-open: orders matched, opening price set
 2:15 PM 2:17 PM
Pre-open: buffer period
 2:17 PM 2:20 PM
Normal Market (main trading hour)
 2:20 PM 3:40 PM
Update of Stock & Index Futures Price Bands for Alignment with CAS in Equity Cash Market
 3:15 PM –

Source: NSE

Details Start time End time
Normal Market
 2:20 PM 3:30 PM
Profit/loss from Muhurat trades settled
 8:30 AM (9 Nov) –

Source: NSE

Details Start time End time
Buy, sell, confirm, change or cancel
 2:05 PM 3:00 PM
Only confirm, change or cancel (no new trades)
 3:00 PM 3:30 PM

Source: NSE

How Does Muhurat Trading Session Work?

The one-hour event follows a compressed version of a normal trading day. The session is made up of the following parts:

  • Block Deal Session

    Two parties agree in advance to trade a set number of shares at a fixed price and report it to the exchange.

  • Pre-Open Session

    Lasts for about 8 minutes to determine the opening equilibrium price based on accumulated orders.

  • Normal Market Session

    The main one hour window where regular retail and institutional investors buy or sell stocks, derivatives or commodities.

  • Call Auction Session

    A brief period dedicated to matching orders for illiquid securities.

  • Closing Session

    A final window allowing participants to place market orders at the closing price before the bell rings.

Segments Available for Muhurat Trading

Significance of Muhurat Trading

  • Cultural Importance

    Diwali is the festival of Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth and prosperity. Many investors see this session as a symbolic offering and begin the new year in an auspicious way.

  • New Samvat year

    On Diwali, many business and trading communities in India open new account books. Muhurat Trading carries this tradition into the stock market. Every year, the Samvat changes and new accounting books are opened.

  • A Fresh Start

    Investors often use the session to begin a new financial year with a clear plan, review their portfolio or make a small token purchase.

Your Pre-Muhurat Checklist

Plan ahead

Decide what you want to buy or sell before the session, so you are not rushing within the hour.

Check liquidity

Trading volumes can be lower for some stocks, which may affect how easily orders get filled.

Keep your account ready

Add funds and update your trading app a day before.

Keep expectations realistic

One hour is short, and prices can move quickly.

Think long term

Many investors treat Muhurat Trading as the start of a long-term journey and focus on diversified, fundamentally strong investments rather than short-term gains.

Frequently Asked Questions

Diwali marks the beginning of the new Hindu calendar year, which is Vikram Samvat 2083 this year. Trading during this auspicious hour is traditionally associated with prosperity.

Benchmark indices have closed higher in most past Muhurat Trading sessions, though the gains have generally been small. Past performance does not indicate future results.

There is no specific category of stocks meant for Muhurat Trading. Some investors make small purchases as part of the tradition, choosing stocks they intend to hold for the long term after reviewing available research and risk disclosures.

Many investors participate in Muhurat Trading as a tradition to mark the beginning of the new Samvat. However, trades carry the usual market risks and settlement obligations. Consider your financial goals and risk appetite before making investment decisions.

Yes, you can buy and sell shares during the Muhurat Trading session. It is a live trading session, and the usual settlement obligations, charges and market rules apply.