Indian Stock Market Holidays October 2025: In India, October is always a joyous time for the country, and it seems 2025 will be no different. Besides multiple national holidays and religious festivals, the markets will play a vital role in the lives of investors, traders, and market participants during this period. They must know the market closing days and special sessions (for instance, Muhurat trading) if any. In the article, we look at what days in October 2025 are market holidays, the cause of the same, and how the market is functioning on those days.
Indian Stock Market Holidays October 2025
Based on the trading holiday calendars published by NSE, BSE, and various brokerages. There are three main trading holidays in October 2025 (excluding weekends) impacting the stock markets in India.
1. October 2, 2025: Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti / Dussehra
2. October 21, 2025: Diwali (Laxmi Pujan)
3. October 22, 2025: Diwali (Balipratipada)
Additionally, on October 21, there is a special “Muhurat Trading” session, which is a short, auspicious trading window, even though parts of the day might otherwise be a holiday.
Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra: October 2, 2025
Gandhi Jayanti is observed every year on October 2 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, a national holiday across India.
Dussehra (also called Vijayadashami) is a major Hindu festival marking the victory of good over evil (the defeat of Ravana), which is scheduled according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar. In 2025, Dussehra coincides with October 2.
Because both a national holiday and a significant festival fall on the same date, stock exchanges (NSE, BSE) will remain fully closed for trading on that day.
From a market perspective, the closure on October 2 acts as a “pause day.” Traders should plan ahead, open orders that are not executed remain in the system (if valid), but no fresh trades happen. Because it’s a holiday, derivative contracts, settlement cycles, and other operations will also adjust accordingly.
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Diwali Holidays and Muhurat Trading: October 21, 22, 2025
Diwali is a multi-day festival (with several associated days), and stock markets adopt a special schedule around it:
October 21, 2025 is observed as Diwali Laxmi Pujan, and is a holiday for equity markets.
October 22, 2025 is Balipratipada, another day of Diwali festivities, and is also a full trading holiday.
These dates are part of the official holiday list for both NSE and BSE.
Indian Stock Market Holidays October 2025: Muhurat Trading (special session) on Diwali
Though markets are closed for regular trading on October 21, there is a special Muhurat Trading session (an auspicious, limited-time session) planned for that day.
According to NSE’s holiday calendar, the timing of Muhurat Trading is to be notified via circulars.
In 2025, media reports indicate the session will be scheduled in the afternoon (rather than in the usual evening slot).
The intent behind Muhurat trading is to allow symbolic trading (many traders place small orders, for tradition or ritual significance), rather than full-fledged trading. It’s more ceremonial, but because it’s organized within exchange rules, trades executed in that slot are valid.
The Muhurat session, although short, may see some volatile or symbolic trades, so risk management is important.
Tips for Investors / Traders
1. Advance Planning: Investors should plan the order placements, delivery, margin requirements, and position rollovers well ahead as trading on these dates is suspended.
2. Awareness of Circulars: There might be exchange and broker circulars about holiday schedules, Muhurat session timing, and settlement deadlines which may be released nearer the dates. Always check official exchange sources (NSE, BSE) before the holidays.
3. Liquidity Considerations: The days before and after a holiday are referred to as ” adjacent days” or “days around a holiday”.
4. Symbolic/Traditional Trades: The Muhurat session, as a tradition, is small in terms of money and volume, it is, however, very attractive to the media and investors alike. Though these trades are highly sentimental and don’t usually lead to market running strongly, but those involved should keep risk under control.
5. Settlement and Clearing Adjustments: Around the holiday windows, settlement cycles might have been changed (e.g. T+1, T+2 rules). The trades which are done just before a holiday may settle later. Clearance operations, back office functions, and banking services may also be affected.
6. Avoid surprises: A market participant who has forgotten the holiday schedule might put orders in, expecting them to be executed or settled on a holiday that is not going to happen. Always cross-check around festival periods.
