Maha Shivratri 2025 Holiday: Are BSE And NSE Open Or Closed On Feb. 26?

Stock markets in India including the BSE and the National Stock Exchange will remain closed on Wednesday, Feb. 26 on account of Maha Shivratri. No trading activity will take place on the day. Trading will remain suspended across equity, derivatives and securities lending and borrowings (SLB) segments. The trading window shall remain closed in the currency and interest rate derivatives segments as well.

Investors and traders are advised to plan their transactions accordingly. Trading will resume as usual on Feb. 27, Thursday. 

The Maha Shivratri holiday on Wednesday is the closure for the stock market in February 2025 in addition to regular closure on the weekend. The market remained open on Feb. 1, Saturday, on account of the Budget 2025 presentation, offering an extra day to the traders. 

Stock markets in India operate on all weekdays– Monday to Friday– unless specified otherwise. Trading activities remain suspended on the weekend, Saturday and Sunday. Markets also remain closed on public holidays for festivals and other occasions announced at the start of every year. The holidays ensure that the traders can enjoy their festivals without worrying about market fluctuation. 

Trading in the equities segment takes place five days a week except for the weekend and other planned holidays. Here are the market timings for the equities segment.

A) Pre-open session

Order entry & modification Open: 09:00 hrs

Order entry & modification Close: 09:08 hrs*

*with random closure in last one minute. Pre-open order matching starts immediately after close of pre-open order entry.

B) Regular trading session

Normal/Limited Physical Market Open: 09:15 hrs

Normal/Limited Physical Market Close: 15:30 hrs

C) Closing Session

The Closing Session is held between 15.40 hrs and 16.00 hrs

D) Block Deal Session Timings:

Morning Window: This window shall operate between 08:45 hrs to 09:00 hrs

Afternoon Window: This window shall operate between 14:05 hrs to 14:20 hrs 

Note: The Exchange may, however, close the market on days other than the above scheduled holidays or may open the market on days originally declared as holidays. The Exchange may also extend, advance or reduce trading hours when it deems fit and necessary.

Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated in the honour of Lord Shiva. Devotees observe fast and offer prayers to Lord Shiva on this day. According to beliefs, Lord Shiva married goddess Parvati on Maha Shivratri, symbolising a balance of masculine and feminine energy. 

According to another take, Lord Shiva consumes poison that came out of 'samudra manthan' or churning of the ocean on this day to protect the world from evil and darkness.