The countdown to Diwali has started and all eyes are on when is Mahurat trading. This is a special trading session that most stock market investors look forward to on Diwali. On this day, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) open briefly, allowing investors to make symbolic trades that mark the start of the new financial year according to Samvat, the Hindu lunar calendar.
Muhurat 2025 trading date and timings
For 2025, the muhurat trading will be held on Tuesday, October 21, and for the first time in years, the session moves from evening to afternoon.
- Pre-open session: 1:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.
- Main trading session: 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
- Post-close modification: up to 2:55 p.m.
NSE, BSE closed for Balipratipada
The exchanges will stay closed for normal trading on Diwali Laxmi Pujan, and again on October 22 for Balipratipada.
What is muhurat trading
It is a one-hour special trading session that the Indian stock exchanges hold every year on Diwali. The word muhurat refers to an auspicious time in the Hindu calendar, a window believed to bring prosperity and good fortune.Trades placed during muhurat trading are real executed and settled under normal market rules.
History of muhurat trading
The practice began in 1957 when the BSE introduced muhurat trading to coincide with the tradition of chopda pujan the ritual of opening new account books on Diwali. For decades before that, business families across Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra had treated Diwali as the start of a new financial year.
When modern stock exchanges took over from old-style trading floors, the custom was adapted rather than abandoned. The NSE adopted the practice later, ensuring that the ritual survived even in a world ruled by terminals and tickers.
What happens during muhurat trading?
The session is short but structured. It begins with a pre-open phase, followed by a one-hour trading window, and ends with a post-close modification period. Investors usually buy select large-cap or fundamentally strong stocks quality names rather than speculative counters.
Some brokerage platforms often waive brokerage charges for the session, treating it as a goodwill gesture. The atmosphere on the trading floor or even online is unusually festive.
Who can participate in muhurat trading 2025?
Anyone can, but reasons differ. New investors often see it as a lucky entry point for their first buy order placed. Long-term investors may add to existing holdings as a mark of continuity. Brokers use the day to strengthen client ties, sometimes gifting sweets along with waived fees.
It’s usually not a time for high-frequency trades or complex derivatives. It’s about showing up, making a symbolic move, and joining a collective gesture.
