Buy and hold is a long-term passive investment strategy where an investor purchases securities and holds them through market cycles, based on the belief that prices will appreciate meaningfully over time. The strategy relies on the historical tendency of quality businesses to compound earnings and share prices over extended periods, regardless of short-term market turbulence. In India, investors who held quality large-cap stocks or diversified index funds through multiple market downturns have generated substantial long-term wealth. The approach also benefits from lower brokerage costs, reduced capital gains tax liability, and freedom from the stress of constant market monitoring.