Muhurat Trading is a special, symbolic trading session conducted by Indian stock exchanges — NSE and BSE — every year on the day of Diwali , marking the beginning of the Hindu New Year according to the Vikram Samvat calendar. The word “Muhurat” means auspicious time . It represents a period when cosmic and planetary alignments are considered highly favorable for new beginnings, prosperity, and success. During this session, traders and investors participate not merely for profits but as a ritual of gratitude and renewal — a prayer to Goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth, and Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles.In essence, Muhurat Trading is not just a market event — it’s the fusion of finance, faith, and time.
Muhurat Trading began as a traditional practice of the BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) several decades ago, formally institutionalized in 1957 . The NSE (National Stock Exchange) continued this tradition after its establishment in 1992 , ensuring its presence in the modern, electronic trading era.
Historically, traders — particularly from the Gujarati and Marwari communities — would begin their new accounting year, or “Samvat Year” , on Diwali. They would perform Chopda Pujan (book worship ceremony), marking the closing of old ledgers and the start of new ones. This practice evolved naturally into a symbolic one hour trading window where market participants would make token trades to invoke prosperity for the upcoming year. Thus, Muhurat Trading bridges ancient financial rituals with modern capital markets , preserving India’s cultural essence within its economic growth story.
The session typically lasts for one hour in the evening on Diwali day, when markets are otherwise closed for the festival. Exchanges announce the exact timing every year — usually between 6:00 PM to 7:15 PM which may change based on muhurat , including a brief pre open session and post close session .
All market segments are open i.e Equity , FNO , Currency , Commodities . Normal market rules apply — trades executed are real and settled , not just symbolic. However, most investors buy a few shares of fundamentally strong companies , often from long term watchlists , as a gesture of auspicious investing rather than speculative intraday activity.
The session generally witnesses positive sentiment and lighter volumes .Institutional activity remains limited, but retail participation spikes . Traders often note that the direction of the Muhurat candle on the index (NIFTY or SENSEX) sometimes sets the tone for the early part of the new Samvat year — a fascinating behavioral and cyclical correlation.
From a time cycle analysis perspective , Muhurat Trading aligns with one of the strongest natural and financial renewal points of the year. Diwali marks the new moon (Amavasya) in the lunar month of Kartika , representing darkness giving way to light — a metaphor for clearing past cycles and welcoming new potential.It coincides with Sun’s transit through Libra , the zodiac sign associated with balance and fairness , aligning beautifully with market psychology.
Samvat Year Reset , The new trading year begins (e.g., Samvat 2082 in 2025). It’s considered a financial time reset , similar to a calendar year roll in Western markets. Many traders and analysts perform yearly cycle studies , backtesting how indices behaved in previous Samvat years. Certain long term investors initiate portfolio rebalancing or new positional allocations around this period, treating it as a cycle inception point.
From a more esoteric lens — followed by several market veterans — Muhurat Trading represents the vibrational resonance of collective optimism . When millions participate with aligned intention and positivity, it symbolically resets the market’s emotional frequency for the year ahead. This is why traders often speak of “Lakshmi entering the market” — it’s a poetic reflection of confidence, harmony, and hope returning to capital flows.
For many traders, participating in the Muhurat session is an emotional and spiritual experience . The office lights are decorated, diyas are lit, and family members often join in the first trade of the year — sometimes buying a single share as a token of fortune . It reminds every trader that beyond charts, data, and algorithms lies a deeper current of belief and gratitude — the realization that wealth is sacred energy, to be handled with discipline, humility, and respect.
Muhurat Trading is not just an event — it’s a reminder of balance between profit and purpose, logic and faith, time and timelessness.When a trader lights a diya before placing the first order of the Samvat year, they are not merely buying a stock — they are honoring the eternal rhythm of creation, risk, and renewal. In the ever evolving dance of markets, Muhurat Trading stands as India’s moment of sacred alignment — where wealth becomes worship, and trading becomes tradition.