Diwali shopping crowds Nagpur markets, clothing stores busiest; traders now eye Dhanteras

With only a few days left for Diwali, a rush of festive shopping has begun in Nagpur. Market streets are crowded, customers are queuing at clothing showrooms, and households are busy decorating their homes for the festival. On Sunday the Orange City witnessed what looked like a shopping marathon. As the festive mood built up, traders have begun to hope for brisk business this Diwali.

Customers kept streaming into the city's shops from the afternoon until late at night. Sitabuldi, Mahal, Itwari, Sakkardara, Gokulpeth, Sadar, Jaripatka and Kamal Chowk were the main shopping areas. Local markets in Ram Nagar, Manish Nagar, Sahakar Nagar, Pratap Nagar, Ramdaspeth, Ayodhya Nagar, Anant Nagar, Pardi, Bhande Plot and Nandanvan also saw good crowds.

Clothes were the most sought-after purchase. People headed to shops to buy new clothes for the festival. From expensive branded showrooms to ordinary neighbourhood shops, sellers were kept busy as families bought clothes for Diwali.

Children's clothing shops were especially crowded. Parents did their festive shopping for their children first. Branded fashion chains continued to draw customers, who were keen to take advantage of attractive discounts and special festive offers. Crowds also grew at electronics shops and malls, where people looked at festive offers on a range of goods.

Diwali shopping is no longer confined to physical markets. Online festive sales have drawn a good response over the past fortnight, which shows a growing preference for digital shopping and for hunting out discounts. Crowded traditional markets and rising online buying have given sellers a good start to the festive season.

Away from the bustle of the markets, households on Sunday were busy with the usual pre-Diwali cleaning, sweeping, dusting and clearing out of clutter. For families this is not just routine housework but an important part of preparing for Lakshmi Puja, when homes are decorated and lit up to welcome the goddess Lakshmi. As decoration, shopping and preparations at home pick up pace, the city is gradually reaching the most colourful phase of the festival.

Traders now have their eyes on Dhanteras, a day traditionally considered auspicious for buying gold, silver and other precious items. Jewellers say advance bookings have begun. Some shops are also offering year-long savings schemes that customers can redeem during the festive season.

However, gold prices have fluctuated sharply over the past year, leaving some uncertainty over jewellery sales. How much is bought on Dhanteras is being watched closely as an indicator of consumer mood during the festival. The automobile, steel and electronics sectors also expect a big jump in sales on Dhanteras.

As the festive shopping season nears its peak, Nagpur's retail market is getting ready for the crucial week. The crowds that have already surged into the markets have raised expectations of good business this Diwali, and traders hope the festive enthusiasm will turn into big earnings.