In a rare shift after decades, India’s stock exchanges have altered the schedule for one of the market’s most symbolic traditions, the Diwali Muhurat Trading session.
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) will hold the special one-hour trading window this afternoon from 1:45 PM to 2:45 PM. This replaces the customary evening session.
The event marks the start of the new Hindu financial year, Samvat 2082.
Traders and investors view Muhurat trading as an auspicious blend of belief and business. They consider it a lucky time to make fresh investments and usher in prosperity for the year ahead.
According to the exchanges’ timetable, the pre-open session will begin at 1:30 PM on both the NSE and BSE. It will be followed by a one-hour Muhurat trading period.
Transactions made during this time will follow the normal settlement cycle, with deliveries and payments processed just like any other trading day.
Commodity exchanges will also take part in the festive session.
The Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) and the National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) are both organising Muhurat trading today.
On the MCX, the pre-open session will run from 1:30 PM to 1:44 PM. Trading will then take place between 1:45 PM and 2:45 PM.
Client code changes can be made until 3:00 PM.
The NCDEX schedule mirrors this, with a pre-trade session from 1:30 PM to 1:45 PM, and trading in the same one-hour window.
As outlined in the Diwali calendar, the MCX will stay closed for its morning session on 22 October (Wednesday). It will reopen from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The NCDEX will remain shut for the entire day.
Normal operations will resume across both exchanges on 23 October (Thursday).
The BSE started Muhurat trading in 1957, and the NSE adopted it in 1992.
In earlier years, brokers marked the day with Chopda Pujan, the ritual worship of account books, to seek divine blessings for wealth and success.
Market watchers, however, anticipate a cheerful Muhurat session this year. They expect benchmark indices to stay positive with festive optimism and an upbeat investor mood.
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