The only trading activity on Tuesday will be the one-hour Muhurat Trading session, a symbolic and time-honoured ritual, to be held from 1:45 PM to 2:45 PM on October 21.
The exchanges said trading will be allowed across equities, futures and options, currency and commodity derivatives, and securities lending and borrowing (SLB). Modifications will be permitted until 2:55 PM.
Lakshmi Puja on Oct 20?
While the lunar calendar’s Amavasya tithi — the phase of the new moon — technically extends into October 21, the auspicious window for Lakshmi Puja falls on the evening of October 20. That’s why most households will observe the festival that night, while the following day marks the financial and spiritual beginning of the new Hindu Samvat year, celebrated through the Muhurat Trading session on Dalal Street.Meanwhile, the Muhurat session will take place in the afternoon on October 21 this year, breaking from the recent years’ pattern when it was typically held in the evening. Markets will also remain closed on October 18 (Saturday) for Dhanteras and October 19 (Sunday) as per the regular weekend schedule.
A ritual steeped in faith and finance
Muhurat Trading — meaning “auspicious hour” — is more than a market event. For investors, it’s a symbolic act marking the start of Samvat 2082, the new Hindu financial year. The session is viewed as a gesture of optimism and a prayer for prosperity rather than a profit-driven exercise.
The tradition has endured for decades and, more often than not, rewarded investors with positive returns. The Sensex has closed higher in 14 of the past 18 Muhurat sessions. Even in 2008, amid the global financial crisis, the index rose 5.86% during the session. In 2024, it gained 335 points, or 0.42%, continuing the trend of festive cheer.Also read | Ola Electric & Ather Energy: Can you bet on India’s EV stocks as China tightens lithium grip?
Analysts note that volumes are thin during the one-hour window, often leading to volatility, but few see it as a typical trading day. Instead, it’s a symbolic reset — when traders, families, and brokers come together to mark a hopeful start to the new year.
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