Festival Calendar: Plan Your Trades Around India’s Biggest Festivals in 2025

Festivals in India do more than light up the streets. They light up the markets as well. Indian festivals are not only cultural celebrations. They influence your spending habits, the overall market sentiment, and the trading activity. For investors and traders, this makes festivals a strategic lens through which to view the markets. Knowing about the stock market holidays, when consumer demand peaks, and when optimism is highest allows you to prepare your trades in advance!

Have a look at the 2025 festival calendar.

The latest 2025 Hindu calendar festival list combines official NSE and BSE stock market holidays.

NSE and BSE Market Holidays in 2025

The first step is understanding when the stock markets will remain closed. According to the official exchange websites and banking portals, the following are NSE and BSE equity and equity derivative holidays for 2025:

Date	Day	Holiday / Occasion
26 February 2025	Wednesday	Mahashivratri
14 March 2025	Friday	Holi
31 March 2025	Monday	Eid‑ul‑Fitr (Ramadan Eid)
10 April 2025	Thursday	Shri Mahavir Jayanti
14 April 2025	Monday	Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Jayanti
18 April 2025	Friday	Good Friday
1 May 2025	Thursday	Maharashtra Day
15 August 2025	Friday	Independence Day
27 August 2025	Wednesday	Ganesh Chaturthi
2 October 2025	Thursday	Gandhi Jayanti / Dussehra
21 October 2025	Tuesday	Diwali (Laxmi Pujan)*
22 October 2025	Wednesday	Diwali / Balipratipada
5 November 2025	Wednesday	Guru Nanak Jayanti
25 December 2025	Thursday	Christmas

*Note: On 21 October, the exchanges will conduct Muhurat trading for Diwali Laxmi Pujan.

Some holidays fall on weekends, when the market is closed anyway. These include Republic Day (26 January), Ram Navami (6 April), Bakri Eid (7 June), and Muharram (6 July).

Currency Derivatives Stock Market Holidays 2025

Sr. No	Date	Day	Holiday / Occasion
1	19-Feb-25	Wednesday	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti
2	01-Apr-25	Tuesday	Annual Bank Closing
3	12-May-25	Monday	Buddha Pournima
4	08-Sep-25	Monday	Id-E-Milad
5	30-Mar-25	Sunday	Gudi Padwa (Weekend Holiday)

Note: All other holidays not mentioned in this table are common to both Equities and Currency Derivatives.

Stock Market Timings for Currency Derivatives

• Normal Market: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• DBTCR / Liquid Transactions ≥ Rs 2 lakhs: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Trading occurs Monday to Friday, excluding declared holidays and Saturdays & Sundays.

Commodity Derivatives Stock Market Holidays 2025

Sr. No	Date	Day	Holiday / Occasion
1	01-Jan-25	Wednesday	New Year
2	26-Feb-25	Wednesday	Mahashivratri (Morning Closed)
3	14-Mar-25	Friday	Holi (Morning Closed)
4	31-Mar-25	Monday	Id-Ul-Fitr (Ramadan Eid) (Morning Closed)
5	10-Apr-25	Thursday	Shri Mahavir Jayanti (Morning Closed)
6	14-Apr-25	Monday	Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti (Morning Closed)

Note: All other holidays not mentioned in this table are common to Equities and Currency Derivatives.

Stock Market Timings for Commodity Derivatives

• Normal Market: 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 / 11:55 p.m. (varies with US daylight savings for internationally referenced non-agri commodities)
• Trade Modification Cut-off: 11:45 / 11:59 p.m.
• Trading occurs Monday to Friday, excluding declared holidays and Saturdays & Sundays.
• Morning and evening session timings may vary depending on the commodity type.

Investor Insights from the 2025 Festival Calendar

• You should plan your entries and exits around holiday closures since volumes thin out the day before.
• It is important to watch for “bridge days” where weekends and holidays combine to create longer breaks.
• You should use Muhurat trading on Diwali as an auspicious opportunity for long-term portfolio positioning.

2025 Festival Calendar – Key Events in 2025

Festivals in India move more than emotions. They move money, demand, and stocks.

Here is the list of 2025 calendar India festivals!

• January – February
  Maha Kumbh Mela (13 January – 26 February 2025, Prayagraj): This is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, with tourism and services impact.
  Regional harvest festivals (Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Bihu): Rural consumption spikes. 

Kala Ghoda Arts Festival (Mumbai, February): Arts and tourism footfall.

• March – April
  Holi (14 March): Promote FMCG, beverages, and travel segments.
  Eid‑ul‑Fitr (31 March): Apparel, food, and gifting demand.
  Mahavir Jayanti, Ambedkar Jayanti, Good Friday: Public holidays.
  Baisakhi, Vishu, Poila Boishakh (mid-April): Regional New Year spending uplift.
• May – June
  Bakri Eid (7 June): Food, livestock, and community retail demand.
  Summer fairs and melas: Local tourism and services sectors.
• July – August
  Raksha Bandhan (9 August): Jewellery, gifting, sweets.
  Independence Day (15 August): Government policy announcements.
  Ganesh Chaturthi (27 August): Retail, cultural spending surge.
• September – October
  Navratri (22 September – 2 October): Fashion, jewellery, consumer durables.
  Durga Puja and Dussehra (September–October): Eastern India retail boom.
  Diwali (21–22 October): The peak consumption period across sectors.
  Karva Chauth, Sharad Purnima, Chhath Puja: Jewellery and gifting sectors.
• November – December
  Guru Nanak Jayanti (5 November): Public holiday.
  Christmas (25 December): Retail, travel, and gifting activity.

Calendar 2025: Festivals, NSE/BSE Holidays, and Market Focus

indian calendar 2025 with Holidays and Festivals-

Month	Key Festivals	Market Holidays	Investor Focus
Jan–Feb	Kumbh Mela, harvest festivals	Markets open	Tourism, services, rural economy
March	Holi	14 March	FMCG, beverages, pre-holiday trades
April	Eid‑ul‑Fitr, Baisakhi, Good Friday	10, 14, 18 April	Consumer retail, watch holiday gaps
May–June	Bakri Eid, summer fairs	—	Food, livestock, and local consumption
July–Aug	Raksha Bandhan, Independence Day, Ganesh Chaturthi	15, 27 August	Jewellery, consumer durables
Sept–Oct	Navratri, Durga Puja, Diwali	2, 21, 22 October	Retail, consumer spending, festive sentiment
Nov–Dec	Guru Nanak Jayanti, Christmas	5 November, 25 December	Retail and gifting cycles

How Festivals Shape Markets

1. Volume and Volatility

The day before holidays often sees unusual trading patterns. You can expect lower liquidity or sudden position squaring.

2. Sectoral Cycles

• Consumer goods and FMCG: Spike in demand before Holi, Diwali, and Durga Puja.
• Jewellery and apparel: Strong during Raksha Bandhan, Karva Chauth, and Diwali.
• Travel and hospitality: Surges during long weekends and cultural festivals.
• Media and entertainment: Higher demand during festival breaks.

3. Sentiment Plays

Festivals carry optimism. New beginnings encourage investment flows, IPO enthusiasm, and consumer buying. You should be cautious of reversals after the festive high fades.

4. Extended Break Risks

Long weekends increase gap risk. You should reduce leveraged exposure before breaks to avoid unexpected volatility.

5. Local Micro-Economies

State-specific festivals like Onam or regional melas have outsized effects on local economies. For investors tracking companies with strong regional dependence, this is crucial.

Conclusion

Festivals in India are never just about celebrations. They change the rhythm of life, and the markets feel it too. The day before Diwali, trading slows down. Holi brings a spike in consumer spending. Regional festivals like Onam or Vishu create short bursts of activity in local markets. 

For investors, it’s less about luck and more about paying attention: seeing how people spend, when sentiment is high, and where the market might move. The 2025 festival calendar isn’t just a list of holidays. It’s a guide to exploring the year with awareness, strategy, and a little cultural insight.

Stock Market Holidays 2025 | FAQs

Source: NSE

Disclaimer: Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks; read all the related documents carefully before investing.