Delhi’s traders are counting on Diwali to do what a month of disruption could not stop: bring the crowds back. The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) said on Saturday that festive-season business in the national capital is expected to touch around Rs 80,000 crore, as shoppers flood markets across the city ahead of the festival of lights.
At the national level, the picture looks even bigger. CTI estimates that business turnover during the ongoing Diwali festive season will reach nearly Rs 5 lakh crore across the country, driven by strong demand for indigenous products and a sharp recovery in retail sales.
For Delhi’s shopkeepers, the timing could hardly matter more. Between October 1 and November 1, rallies and protests in the capital disrupted trade and caused estimated losses of around Rs 14,000 crore. Now, with Diwali round the corner, traders say the mood has turned.
Markets buzzing again after a tough month
CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal said large crowds are now thronging markets across the capital, and traders are hopeful of a bumper Diwali season that helps them recover their losses. The chamber arrived at its estimates after consultations with representatives of hotel and banquet associations, restaurant and mall associations, cinema associations, shopping centre associations, automobile dealer associations, makeup and salon associations, tour and travel associations, market associations and industry bodies.
The rush is visible in the city’s best-known shopping hubs. Chandni Chowk, Dariba Kalan, Maliwada, Sadar Bazar, Kamla Nagar, Ashok Vihar, Model Town, Shalimar Bagh, Wazirpur, Pitampura, Rajouri Garden, South Extension, Greater Kailash, Green Park, Yusuf Sarai, Lajpat Nagar, Preet Vihar, Shahdara and Laxmi Nagar are all reporting heavy footfall, according to CTI.
Sadar Bazar, the capital’s wholesale heart, has been packed with shoppers picking up festive goods, while retailers in Lajpat Nagar and Sarojini Nagar report brisk sales of clothing, home decor and gift items.
Made in India products lead the festive rush
One clear trend this season is the preference for Indian-made goods. Goyal said indigenous products are witnessing strong demand among consumers, and traders expect the shift towards Made in India products to be one of the defining features of this year’s Diwali shopping.
From diyas and decorative lights to sweets, dry fruits, clothing and electronics, shoppers are choosing local products in large numbers. Traders say the trend is visible across categories, from street markets to organised retail.
The automobile sector is also riding the festive wave. Citing a report by the apex automobile industry body, CTI said retail automobile sales across the country have registered growth of 55 per cent, a strong signal that big-ticket festive buying is back.
What the numbers mean
- Rs 80,000 crore: projected Diwali festive trade in Delhi alone, according to CTI.
- Rs 5 lakh crore: estimated nationwide business turnover during the festive season.
- Rs 14,000 crore: estimated losses Delhi traders suffered between October 1 and November 1 because of rallies and protests.
- 55 per cent: growth in retail automobile sales across the country, as per the apex automobile industry body.
CTI’s figures are projections based on trade consultations, not audited data, so the final tally will only be known once the season ends. But the direction of travel is clear: after a month in which protests kept shoppers away, Delhi’s markets are busy again, and traders are betting that the Diwali rush will more than make up for lost ground.
A season traders were waiting for
For many small traders, Diwali is the single most important selling season of the year, and this time the stakes are higher than usual. A strong festive season would not only repair the damage of the past month but also set up a confident start to the winter shopping season.
With Diwali shopping still in full swing and crowds growing by the day, Delhi’s traders are hoping the Rs 80,000 crore projection proves conservative rather than optimistic. If the footfall in Sadar Bazar and Chandni Chowk this weekend is anything to go by, they have good reason to be hopeful.
FAQs
How much Diwali trade is Delhi expected to see this year?
The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) projects Delhi’s festive-season trade at around Rs 80,000 crore.
What is the nationwide festive business estimate?
CTI estimates business turnover of nearly Rs 5 lakh crore across India during the ongoing Diwali festive season.
Why are Delhi traders hoping for a big Diwali?
Rallies and protests between October 1 and November 1 caused estimated losses of around Rs 14,000 crore for traders in the capital, and a strong Diwali season would help them recover.
Which products are selling most this Diwali?
Indigenous, Made in India products are seeing strong demand, along with automobiles, where retail sales have grown 55 per cent nationwide.
Which Delhi markets are busiest this festive season?
Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Lajpat Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Rajouri Garden, South Extension, Greater Kailash, Shahdara and Laxmi Nagar are among the markets reporting heavy crowds.
Delhi’s Diwali trade story is developing as the festive season continues. Traders and market associations will have a clearer picture of final sales once the season wraps up.
