Indian Bourses Set Auspicious Diwali Trading Hours for November 8

India's leading stock exchanges, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), have officially announced the timings for their special 'Muhurat Trading' session on Sunday, November 8, 2026, to mark the auspicious festival of Diwali. This ceremonial trading window, a cherished annual tradition, will see continuous trading from 2:20 PM to 3:30 PM Indian Standard Time (IST), following a 15-minute pre-open session. For those tracking from across the globe, this translates to an opening bell at 3:50 AM Eastern Time (ET) and a pre-open beginning at 3:35 AM ET. This special one-hour session, coinciding with Laxmi Pujan, is more than just a trading opportunity; it's a symbolic start to the new Hindu accounting year, Samvat 2083, believed to bring prosperity. Investors and traders will have access to a range of market segments including the equity market, commodity derivatives, currency derivatives, and equity futures and options. While the primary goal is often to make auspicious, symbolic purchases, all trades executed during this period will be subject to normal exchange rules and settlement procedures. As the markets prepare for this unique trading window, participants should note the full schedule, including specific timings for member logins, the block deal window, and post-market activities like the Closing Auction Session (CAS). Unlike regular trading days, Muhurat Trading is a shorter, focused event, and investors are encouraged to approach it with a clear strategy, understanding its cultural significance alongside its market implications. The exchanges will remain closed on November 10 for Diwali Balipratipada, making this session a key financial moment around the festival.