March is a busy month with multiple trading holidays and the financial year coming to an end. Here is everything you need to know about the Ram Navami market closure and how to plan your trades around it.
Yes, the Stock Market is Closed on 26th March 2026
The Indian stock market will remain closed on Thursday, 26th March 2026, on the occasion of Shri Ram Navami. Both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) have declared this date as an official trading holiday. The closure covers all equity, derivatives, currency, and commodity (day session) segments.
This is the second of three stock market holidays in March 2026. With the financial year 2025-26 ending on 31st March, traders and investors need to plan their positions and settlements carefully around these back-to-back closures.
Ram Navami — What the Holiday Means for Each Segment
Not every market segment follows the same holiday schedule. Here is the full picture for 26th March 2026:
|
Market Segment |
Status on 26 Mar |
Notes |
|
Equity (BSE & NSE) |
CLOSED |
No buying/selling of stocks |
|
Equity Derivatives (F&O) |
CLOSED |
No futures or options trading |
|
Currency Derivatives |
CLOSED |
No forex trading on exchanges |
|
Securities Lending & Borrowing (SLB) |
CLOSED |
SLB segment suspended |
|
MCX Commodities (Morning) |
CLOSED |
Day session 9 AM - 5 PM closed |
|
MCX Commodities (Evening) |
OPEN |
Evening session 5 PM - 11:30 PM open |
|
NCDEX (Agri Commodities) |
CLOSED |
Both sessions closed |
The Crunch Period: March 23rd to 31st — Your Trading Calendar
The last stretch of FY 2025-26 is unusually compressed. Between 23rd and 31st March, there are four non-trading days including the Ram Navami holiday, two weekend days, and Mahavir Jayanti on the 31st — which is also the financial year-end.
|
Day |
Date |
Market Status |
|
Monday |
23 March |
Trading day (normal session) |
|
Tuesday |
24 March |
Trading day (normal session) |
|
Wednesday |
25 March |
Trading day (normal session) |
|
Thursday |
26 March |
CLOSED — Ram Navami |
|
Friday |
27 March |
Trading day (normal session) |
|
Saturday |
28 March |
CLOSED — Weekend |
|
Sunday |
29 March |
CLOSED — Weekend |
|
Monday |
30 March |
Trading day (normal session) |
|
Tuesday |
31 March |
CLOSED — Mahavir Jayanti (FY end) |
Out of the nine days between 23rd and 31st March, the market is open for trading on only five days. This is significant for anyone managing F&O positions, equity deliveries, mutual fund redemptions, or year-end tax planning.
About Ram Navami
Ram Navami is a major Hindu festival that celebrates the birth anniversary of Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu. It falls on the ninth day (Navami) of the Shukla Paksha of the Chaitra month in the Hindu lunar calendar, marking the conclusion of the nine-day Chaitra Navaratri.
The festival is observed with special reverence across India, particularly in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, which is regarded as the birthplace of Lord Rama. Temples hold elaborate pujas, readings of the Ramayana, and processions throughout the day. It is one of the most spiritually significant days in the Vaishnava tradition.
Are banks open on Ram Navami?
Bank branches in most of the major cities across India will also be closed on 26th March. The following cities celebrate bank holidays on the day of Ram Navami:
Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Belapur, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Ranchi and Shimla, etc.
However, digital banking is still operational on Ram Navami. Digital banking services like UPI, internet banking, mobile banking and ATM will remain operational. Traders can top up their broker accounts via UPI at any time on 26th March.
Impact of Ram Navami holiday on T+1 settlement cycle
March 26, 2026, will be a clearing and settlement holiday. Due to the closure of equity markets and clearing corporations, it directly affects the T+1 settlement cycle that is followed in Indian stock markets.
If investors sell their delivery shares on Wednesday, March 25, the T+1 settlement will not occur on Thursday, March 26. Instead, the settlement will be pushed to the next working day, i.e. the final cash payout will be credited to their bank accounts on Friday, March 27.
What Traders and Investors Should Do Before 26th March
With the market closed for a mid-week Thursday and Mahavir Jayanti falling just five days later on Tuesday 31st March, here is a practical checklist for market participants:
- F&O positions: Review open derivative positions before Wednesday market close on 25th March. Mid-week holidays can affect weekly expiry schedules and margin obligations.
- Year-end tax harvesting: If you plan to book losses or realise gains before FY end for tax purposes, note that the effective last trading days are 27th and 30th March. The market is not open on the 31st.
- Mutual fund transactions: NAVs for mutual fund purchases and redemptions submitted on 26th March will be processed on the next business day, 27th March.
- SIP and STP investors: If your SIP date falls on 26th March, units will be allotted at the next applicable NAV on the next business day.
- Commodity traders: MCX evening session is open. Monitor global commodity prices during the daytime closure as international markets will continue trading.
Final Word
The stock market will be closed on Thursday, 26th March 2026, for Ram Navami. Combined with the Mahavir Jayanti closure on 31st March and the financial year-end falling on the same date, the final week of FY 2025-26 is one of the most condensed trading periods of the year.
Whether you are a long-term investor, an active trader, or someone managing year-end portfolio decisions, planning ahead is essential. Mark these dates in your calendar and execute time-sensitive trades on the open market days — 25th, 27th, and 30th March.
