Diwali, the festival of lights, will illuminate India on October 20, 2025, as confirmed by Hindu scholars, with the Amavasya Tithi in Kartik aligning on this date. While schools, colleges, banks, and government offices across most of India will remain closed on October 20, Maharashtra has designated October 21 as the official Diwali holiday. This shift impacts the Mumbai-based stock exchanges, the BSE and NSE, which will observe a trading holiday on October 21, not October 20, for Diwali Laxmi Pujan.

The NSE announced that a special one-hour Muhurat trading session will take place on October 21 from 1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. IST, marking the start of the Hindu financial year, Vikram Samvat 2082. This brief trading window, considered auspicious by investors, allows trading during the festive season. Last year’s session occurred on November 1 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., and the 2025 timing reflects the exchanges’ tradition of aligning with Diwali celebrations.

Additionally, October 22, 2025, will also be a trading holiday for Balipratipada, a festival honoring King Bali’s return, observed in states like Maharashtra and Karnataka. This consecutive holiday will extend the festive break for India’s stock markets, offering traders and investors a rare pause during the vibrant Diwali season.

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For the rest of 2025, the BSE and NSE have scheduled trading holidays for key occasions, including Mahashivratri (February 26), Holi (March 14), Id-Ul-Fitr (March 31), Shri Mahavir Jayanti (April 10), Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti (April 14), Good Friday (April 18), Maharashtra Day (May 1), Independence Day (August 15), Shri Ganesh Chaturthi (August 27), Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti/Dussehra (October 2), Prakash Gurpurb (November 5), and Christmas (December 25). These holidays reflect India’s diverse cultural and religious calendar.

Regular trading hours for the equities segment remain unchanged on non-holiday weekdays. The pre-open session runs from 9:00 a.m. to 9:08 a.m., followed by the regular trading session from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and a closing session from 3:40 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Block deal sessions occur in the morning (8:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.) and afternoon (2:05 p.m. to 2:20 p.m.). The exchanges retain the flexibility to adjust these hours or declare additional holidays as needed, ensuring adaptability to unforeseen circumstances.

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