A Mahashivratri Night: Between Bells and Breakouts
- A Long Night in Kashi
- The Channel Built on Pure Price
- The Rules That Reduce Noise
- When the Bell Finally Rings
A Long Night in Kashi
Mahashivratri in Varanasi does not sleep. The lanes near Kashi Vishwanath stay awake, the ghats glow with lamps, and the sound of bells mixes with the Ganga Aarti. People wait for hours, not rushing, not complaining. Waiting itself becomes devotion.
On the steps near Dashashwamedh Ghat stood Rohit, a jewelry trader from Jaipur. With him was his cousin Amit, who ran a transport business, and their old family friend Naveen, a quiet man who rarely spoke but spent time studying market behavior.
Rohit looked tired. “We have been standing here for so long. Still hours to go.”
Amit smiled. “That’s the point. Shivratri is about staying awake and waiting.”
Rohit sighed. “If only I had this patience in trading. I often enter too early. Or exit just before something meaningful happens.”
Naveen spoke. “That’s because action happens inside noise. Larger moves often follow long periods of quiet.”
Rohit turned toward him. “You always explain things like riddles.”
Naveen looked at the river. “Markets move like this night. Long stretches of stillness, then a clear shift. There’s a simple way traders observe such moments. It’s called Donchian Channels.”
The Channel Built on Pure Price
Naveen explained.
“Donchian Channels are based only on price. They don’t use averages, indicators, or volume. That simplicity is what draws many people to them.”
Amit asked. “Only price?”
“Yes, the channel has two lines. One marks the highest price over a fixed number of past candles. The other marks the lowest price over the same period.”
“Many people observe twenty periods. That means the channel keeps updating to show the highest high and lowest low of the last twenty candles.”
Rohit nodded. “So the range keeps adjusting.”
“Exactly, when price stays inside the channel, the market is often undecided. Movement exists, but direction is unclear.”
He paused and added quietly, “When price closes outside the channel, it suggests the market may be shifting.
Donchian Channel Basics
Upper Channel = Highest High of last N periods
Lower Channel = Lowest Low of last N periods
Middle Line (optional) = (Upper + Lower) ÷ 2”
The Rules That Reduce Noise
Rohit asked, “Then why do people struggle with it?”
Naveen smiled. “Often because they ignore its intent.”
He explained calmly. “Many choose not to act inside the channel, because that’s where frequent back-and-forth happens.”
“Another idea traders watch is the difference between a price touching the channel and closing beyond it. A close shows more commitment than a brief move.”
Amit nodded slowly.
“Donchian Channels are often studied in trending conditions. That’s why they were used by the Turtle Traders in commodities. They focused less on frequent trades and more on staying with moves once they developed.”
Rohit frowned. “So no trying to guess tops or bottoms.”
“Correct, it’s a trend-following approach. Observation comes before action.”
“Some traders also monitor the opposite channel as a reference for exits. It’s a way to stay aligned with price behavior rather than emotions.”
Rohit’s eyes widened. “That would help avoid small, random moves.”
“Yes. It encourages focus on clearer shifts.”
When the Bell Finally Rings
The temple bells grew louder. Midnight was close. The crowd folded their hands together.
Rohit spoke softly. “This feels clearer. I don’t need to rush. I need to wait for confirmation.”
Amit smiled. “Just like tonight.”
Naveen nodded. “Donchian Channels remind people of one thing. Patience matters. Action follows clarity.”
“When learning or practicing, keeping charts simple helps. Tools like the Navia All In One App can help track price ranges without clutter.”
As the final aarti began and chants filled the air, Rohit felt calm. Shivratri offered him a new perspective. Meaningful moves often come after long waiting. In faith. And in markets.
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