Confusion has arisen among traders as the stock market is closed on Tuesday, March 3, for Holi, while many parts of the country are celebrating the festival on Wednesday, March 4.
The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) listed March 3 as the official trading holiday for Holi 2026 in their annual calendar. However, because a lunar eclipse occurred on March 3, several regions shifted their Holi celebrations to March 4.
Holika Dahan was observed on March 2 in many areas. With March 3 coinciding with the eclipse, people in various parts of the country chose to celebrate Holi the following day, leading to uncertainty about whether markets would also remain closed on March 4.
According to the official exchange holiday list, trading is suspended only on March 3. Markets will reopen on Wednesday, March 4, despite widespread celebrations.
The Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) is closed for the morning session from 9 am to 5 pm on March 3 but will operate during the evening session from 5 pm to 11:55 pm. Meanwhile, the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) remains closed for the entire day.
Investor Reactions
The difference between the exchange holiday and the main celebration date has sparked reactions on social media platform X.
Some traders questioned why festival holidays were not aligned with the primary celebration dates observed across the country. Others pointed out that similar confusion had occurred during Diwali in the past. A few retail traders even called for a voluntary boycott of trading on March 4, reflecting frustration over the scheduling.
Upcoming Market Holidays in 2026
As per the NSE holiday calendar, the next market closures after Holi are:
March 26 – Shri Ram Navami
March 31 – Shri Mahavir Jayanti
April 3 – Good Friday
April 14 – Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti
May 1 – Maharashtra Day
May 28 – Bakri Id
June 26 – Muharram
September 14 – Ganesh Chaturthi
October 2 – Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti
October 20 – Dussehra
November 10 – Diwali-Balipratipada
November 24 – Prakash Gurpurab Sri Guru Nanak Dev
December 25 – Christmas
There are no trading holidays in July and August.
Additionally, November 8, 2026, will observe a trading holiday for Diwali Laxmi Pujan, with Muhurat Trading scheduled on that day. Specific timings will be announced separately.
Some holidays, including Mahashivratri (February 15), Id-Ul-Fitr (March 21), Independence Day (August 15), and Diwali Laxmi Pujan (November 8), fall on weekends in 2026, so no additional weekday closure will take place.
For now, markets remain closed only on March 3 for Holi, and trading resumes as usual on March 4, even as many regions celebrate the festival that day.
