Diwali Spending Hits Record in India, With National Trade Set to Cross ₹7 Lakh Crore and Delhi Past ₹1 Lakh Crore

Diwali spending in India has hit a new record. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said on Saturday that Diwali-related business across the country has already passed ₹6 lakh crore and is expected to cross ₹7 lakh crore, while Delhi alone has passed ₹1 lakh crore, a record for the capital. Buying peaked on Dhanteras, when nationwide business reached a record ₹1.25 lakh crore in a single day, with gold and silver sales topping ₹66,000 crore — more than half of the day's trade. (Archive image: Diwali shoppers in Delhi's Sadar Bazar.)

Gold, jewellery and appliances in highest demand

The traders' body said demand was strongest across gold, silver and jewellery, electronics and home appliances — mobile phones, LED televisions, refrigerators, washing machines and air conditioners — as well as clothing, puja and decorative items, automobiles and handicrafts. Delhi's bullion market alone did more than ₹10,000 crore of business on Dhanteras.

Up 15% to 18% on last year — but the figures are the traders' own estimates

CAIT had earlier estimated that trade across the Navratri-to-Diwali period could exceed ₹7 lakh crore, an increase of 15 to 18 percent on last year's festive trade of about ₹6.05 lakh crore. Last year, Diwali goods sales reached ₹5.40 lakh crore, plus about ₹65,000 crore in services, a 25 percent rise on the prior year. The figures are CAIT's own compilation and have not been independently verified. India's two main stock exchanges also held their annual Muhurat special trading session on Sunday afternoon, marking the start of the new Samvat accounting year.