NSE & BSE seems to be Ignoring all Major Festivals of India and this is Not a Small Issue.
— Sharad Jhunjhunwala (@sharadjhun) March 2, 2026
What is the use of Holidays made for Festivals, if its given on the Wrong Date.
Last year it was Diwali and now Holi tomorrow. These are the 2 Major Festivals then how can this be…
Indian stock exchanges remained shut on Tuesday for Holi, even as celebrations in several parts of the country are scheduled for Wednesday, March 4. The holiday timing has led to confusion among traders, with many pointing out that Holika Dahan was observed late on March 2 and colour celebrations will be held the following day in several states.
Both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) declared a full trading holiday on March 3. There was no activity across equity, derivatives, securities lending and borrowing segments. Trading is set to resume on Wednesday, when markets will function as usual.
MCX evening session open, NCDEX closed
Commodity markets followed a slightly different schedule. The Multi-Commodity Exchange of India remained closed during the morning session from 9 am to 5 pm, but reopened for the evening session from 5 pm to 11:55 pm. The National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange remained shut for the entire day.
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Why did the holiday date spark debate?
The holiday date has drawn reactions from some market participants. With Holika Dahan observed on March 2 in many regions and Holi celebrations planned for March 4 across several states, questions were raised about the choice of March 3 as the trading holiday.
The Reserve Bank of India holiday matrix reflects regional variations. March 2 was listed as Holika Dahan in certain states, while March 3 was marked for Holi's second day, Dol Jatra, Dhulandi, Holika Dahan or Attukal Pongala, depending on the region. March 4 is separately recognised as Holi's second day, Dhuleti or Yaosang's second day in some areas.
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Volatile start to the week
The holiday followed a weak start to the week. On Monday, benchmark indices saw sharp declines amid global risk aversion linked to tensions in the Middle East.
The Nifty 50 closed 312 points lower at 24,865, while the BSE Sensex fell 1,048 points to 80,238. Broader markets were also under pressure, with midcap and smallcap indices registering losses. Most sectoral indices ended in the red, led by auto and energy stocks.
