Stock market holiday: Indian stock markets will remain open this week during several festivals, including Ugadi, Gudi Padwa and Eid-ul-Fitr, as these occasions are not part of the official trading list of exchanges.
According to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange (NSE) holiday calendars, there are no trading holidays between March 19 and March 21 due to festivals or regional holidays, only the regular Saturday weekend break is the reason for the market closure.
Markets will remain open on March 19 and 20, while March 21 is a non-trading day only because it falls on a Saturday. Trading across segments such as equities, derivatives, currency and commodities will otherwise continue as usual.
Upcoming festivals
Ugadi will be celebrated on March 19 this year, to celebrate the New Year in several southern states of the country. The festival holds special significance in states like Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
Meanwhile, Eid-ul-Fitr in India is likely to be observed on Friday, March 20, after the crescent moon was observed in the Gulf countries on Wednesday. This occasion is celebrated one day after the sighting of the moon.
While these festivals are widely celebrated in various parts of India, stock market holidays are determined by a pre-defined stock market calendar and not all state or regional holidays result in closure of trading. As a result, investors and traders should not assume that the markets will close during every major festival period.
Stock market holidays in 2026
In the holiday calendar released last year, exchanges had announced 15 trading holidays in 2026. So far, the market has seen only three trading holidays, including the Maharashtra municipal elections, Republic Day and Holi.
March remains a holiday-filled month for the Indian stock market, with three trading sessions closed apart from regular weekend breaks. Both BSE and NSE will remain closed this month due to Ram Navami and Mahavir Jayanti.
The market will remain closed for Shri Ram Navami on Thursday 26 March and for Shri Mahavir Jayanti on Tuesday 31 March.
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There will be two business holidays in April and May, followed by one holiday in June. There will be no market holidays in July and August. Meanwhile, September and December will each have one bank holiday, while October and November will have two business holidays.
Traders and investors are therefore advised to follow the official holiday schedule closely to effectively plan their trades and avoid confusion regarding non-trading days.
