Indian stock markets will remain closed for a total of three days in March 2026, marking the most number of holidays in a month this year. NSE and BSE will remain closed on account of Holi, Shri Ram Navami and Shri Mahavir Jayanti this month.Markets will remain shut tomorrow (March 3) on account of Holi, according to the holiday calendar on NSE. Later in the month, they will remain closed on March 26 (Thursday) to celebrate Shri Ram Navami, and on March 31 (Tuesday) on account of Shri Mahavir Jayanti. Here is a list of upcoming NSE, BSE holidays in March.March 3 (Tuesday): HoliMarch 26 (Thursday): Shri Ram NavamiMarch 31 (Tuesday): Shri Mahavir JayantiId-Ul-Fitr (Ramadan Eid) is being celebrated on March 21, which is a Saturday when markets are already closed. Hence, the total number of effective market holidays in March stands at 3. Notably, this follows February, which saw no market holidays, and January which saw only one market holiday on account of Republic Day (January 26).Stock Market closed on March 3, but Holi on March 4?Investors have raised questions about the market holiday on March 3 as Holi will be celebrated on March 4 in most places in India due to a total lunar eclipse tomorrow.Samir Arora, Group CIO and Fund Manager of Helios Capital, took to X to suggest that Indian stock markets should be closed on both Tuesday and Wednesday, firstly because Holi is being celebrated on Wednesday and not on Tuesday, and secondly because a “two day holiday will allow time for clear visibility on what is happening in Iran war thus avoiding unnecessary volatility and losses for most investors”.“To compensate for the loss in trading for one day for our brokers and especially stock exchanges (who always want markets to be open) I appeal to the DIIs/FIIs and retail to trade extra 0.5% every day (1/200- to make up for one extra holiday in a 200 odd day year) in the balance of the year so that our esteemed exchanges and brokers are not negatively affected,” he wrote.— Iamsamirarora (@Iamsamirarora) His statement comes as Indian stock markets crashed on Monday, after the war between Iran and US-Israel escalated following the killing of the former's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Upcoming market holidays in 2026:Next month, markets will remain closed on two days - April 3 on account of Good Friday, and April 14 on account of Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Jayanti.There are a total of 15 effective market holidays this year, starting with Republic Day on January 26 and ending with Christmas on December 25.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)