Deepavali, or Diwali, remains India’s biggest festival and this year, it turned into a massive season of sales across the country.
According to the Confederation of Indian Traders (CAIT), the goods sector recorded sales worth Rs 5.40 lakh crore, while the services sector clocked another Rs 65,000 crore during the festive period.
Between Dassera and Deepavali, traders sold 1100 metric tonnes of sweets valued at Rs 46 crore. Meanwhile, Tata Motors reported selling over 1 lakh cars during the same festive window.
CAIT said trader and consumer confidence remained high this year, with the Trader Confidence Index touching 8.6 out of 10. It credited the boost in business to GST cuts and the “Indians Opting for India-Made Goods” movement, which led to a 25% increase in sales compared to last year.
This year also marked a major return to physical shopping. Around 85% of all trade came from traditional markets and small traders a shift from previous years when online and quick-commerce platforms dominated.
Rural and semi-urban India contributed 28% of total trade, showing strong buying power beyond metropolitan cities.
CAIT also noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for “Vocal for Local” and a “Swadeshi Diwali” struck a powerful chord with buyers, encouraging them to support Indian products.
