NSE & BSE Closed on Oct 2, 2025 for Gandhi Jayanti/Dussehra

When National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) announced they would be shuttered on Thursday, October 2, 2025, traders across the country took a quick breath. The reason? Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti / DussehraIndia—a double‑header public holiday that lands on a weekday, forcing both major exchanges to sit out the day. Here’s the thing: the closure isn’t a surprise; it’s baked into the official holiday calendars released by the exchanges and echoed by broker‑ages such as Zerodha, HDFC Bank and Angel One.

Why the Market Closes on Oct 2, 2025

India’s financial regulators treat national holidays the same way a school does—no classes, no exams. Gandhi Jayanti marks the birth of the nation’s most iconic leader, while Dussehra celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Because both fall on the same calendar day in 2025, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, in tandem with SEBI, classifies the date as a non‑trading day for all equity, derivative and securities‑lending segments. The stock market holiday therefore impacts not just retail investors but also institutional players, clearing houses and even commodity exchanges like MCX, which follow the same schedule.

Official Holiday Calendars Confirm Closure

The confirmation came from a chorus of sources. The NSE’s own holiday list—published on groww.in and mirrored on the exchange’s website—lists October 2, 2025 under the heading “NSE holidays falling on weekdays.” Meanwhile, BSE’s trading holiday schedule, posted on bseindia.com on August 27, 2025, assigns "Holiday number 10" to the same date. Zerodha’s market‑intelligence team even released a dedicated PDF titled “Stock Market Holiday Calendar for NSE & BSE 2025,” which marks the day as a full closure.

HDFC Bank’s Learning Centre mirrors the same info, stating that the date is a “Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti / Dussehra” holiday for NSE. The Nifty Indices portal, a go‑to for futures traders, lists the same event without extra commentary, reinforcing the consensus.

Impact on Traders and Markets

For day‑traders, a closed day means no opportunities to capture intraday volatility, which is usually a mixed bag. “A holiday can be a double‑edged sword,” says Ravi Kumar, senior analyst at Angel One. “On the one hand, you lose a trading session; on the other, you get a breather to reassess positions before the next big event—Diwali.“

Portfolio managers typically use the pause to rebalance holdings, especially ahead of the heavy Diwali‑Muhurat trading session slated for October 21, 2025. That special one‑hour window, announced by both exchanges, often sees a surge in buying, especially in blue‑chip stocks.

• 14 weekday market holidays are scheduled for 2025.
• October 2 is the 10th listed holiday for BSE.
• Both NSE and BSE close for the entire day—no pre‑ or post‑market sessions.
• MCX also halts trading for the same holiday.
• Next major market closure after October 2 will be for Ganesh Chaturthi on August 27, 2025.

Other 2025 Trading Holidays at a Glance

Beyond Gandhi Jayanti/Dussehra, the calendar is peppered with cultural and religious observances. Here’s a quick rundown of the remaining weekday closures:

1. Feb 26 – Mahashivratri
2. Mar 14 – Holi
3. Mar 31 – Eid‑Ul‑Fitr
4. Apr 10 – Shri Mahavir Jayanti
5. Apr 14 – Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti
6. Apr 18 – Good Friday (also affects MCX)
7. May 1 – Maharashtra Day
8. Aug 15 – Independence Day (MCX joins)
9. Aug 27 – Ganesh Chaturthi
10. Oct 21 – Diwali Laxmi Pujan (Muhurat trading)
11. Oct 22 – Diwali‑Balipratipada
12. Nov 5 – Guru Nanak Jayanti
13. Dec 25 – Christmas (MCX joins)

Weekends also see a handful of holidays—Republic Day on Jan 26, Shri Ram Navami on Apr 6, Bakra Eid on Jun 7 and Muharram on Jul 6—though these do not affect trading because markets are already closed.

What Investors Should Do Ahead of the Holiday

First, check your broker’s cut‑off times. Most platforms require orders to be placed a day before a holiday; otherwise, they’ll be queued for the next session. Second, consider reviewing any exposure to stocks that traditionally move on festive occasions—consumer durables, gold ETFs and auto manufacturers often see a lift after Diwali.

Finally, keep an eye on the macro‑economic calendar. The RBI is slated to release its quarterly Monetary Policy Statement on Oct 9, just a week after the market reopens. Aligning your portfolio ahead of that announcement can help cushion any surprise rate‑move impact.

Background on Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra

Gandhi Jayanti commemorates the birth of Mohandas K. Gandhi on October 2, 1869. It’s a national holiday, marked by prayer meetings, hoisting of the national flag and community service. Dussehra, on the other hand, celebrates Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana, ending the nine‑day Navratri festival.

Because the two events occasionally coincide, the government consolidates them into a single public holiday to avoid a calendar clash. In 2025, both fall on a Thursday, prompting the exchanges to close in unison.

Future Outlook: Next Market Closures

After the October 2 shutdown, the next trading pause will be for the Diwali‑Muhurat session on October 21, followed by a full market closure on October 22 for Diwali‑Balipratipada. The year then wraps up with Guru Nanak Jayanti on Nov 5 and Christmas on Dec 25.

Traders who plan ahead—by positioning ahead of the Diwali rally and adjusting exposure before the year‑end—stand to navigate the holiday‑laden calendar with less stress.