The Indian stock markets are closed for trading on October 20, Tuesday, on account of Dussehra or Vijayadashami. It is widely celebrated across the nation by people of the Hindu faith, in two different ways.
While the Gregorian calendar (English calendar) marks Vijayadashami as Wednesday, as per traditional Hindu calendar based on lunar days, it falls partly on Tuesday and partly on Wednesday instead.
In 2026, Durga Ashtami fell on the first half of Oct 19, while the second part saw the beginning of Mahanavami. The same thing occurs on Oct 20, with Mahanavami ending during the day, and Vijayadashami beginning in the second half.
In Hindu mythology, Vijayadashami commemorates the the day Goddess Durga took her fierce form of Mahisasurmardini destroyed the demon Mahishasura. The day is marked by the final day of Durga Puja, concluding Navaratri. This is mostly observed in South and East India.
It also commemorates the events in a later epoch (or yuga), as per Ramayana, as the celebration after Lord Rama defeats the demon king Ravana. This version of the mythology is more celebrated in North and West India.
The time in the latter story, the Vijay Muhurat of Rama’s victory over Ravana as narrated in the Ramayana is said to be celebrated on Oct 20 between 2.00pm to 2.46pm.
Certain regions in India, like Mewar region of Rajasthan, celebrate both versions. Vijayadashami is also marked by Vidyarambham festival and Saraswati Puja in Kerala, and Kulasekrapattinam in Tamil Nadu.
Indian bourses are closed on special days that are notified earlier by the exchanges.
List of remaining market holidays in 2026
Here is the list of upcoming holidays as notifiied by the NSE and the BSE:
Oct 20, 2026 Tuesday: Dussehra / Vijayadashami
Nov 10, 2026 Tuesday: Diwali-Balipratipada
Nov 24, 2026 Tuesday: Prakash Gurpurb Sri Guru Nanak Dev
Dec 25, 2026 Friday: Christmas
The following special days fall on Sundays this year, when the markets are anyway closed.
Nov 08, 2026: Diwali Laxmi Pujan
