Delhi accounts for Rs 2,800 crore Bhai Dooj trade: CAIT

Bhai Dooj festival generated an estimated Rs 22,000 crore worth of business across India, while Delhi alone accounted for nearly Rs 2,800 crore in trade, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said on Thursday.

According to the CAIT, major markets across the country — particularly in Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Bhopal, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune, Patna, Indore, and Kanpur — witnessed huge crowds during the Bhai Dooj festival.

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Today, Bhai Dooj was celebrated with great enthusiasm, happiness, and traditional fervour across Delhi and the entire nation.

The CAIT said it believes that festivals like Bhai Dooj rejuvenate India’s traditional market culture and inspire consumers to prefer Swadeshi products, thereby reinforcing the spirit of self-reliance in the Indian economy.

The CAIT further said the major categories of goods traded during the festival included sweets and savouries, chocolates, fruits, dry fruits and gift packs, readymade garments, sarees and apparel, jewellery and fashion accessories, electronics and gadgets, home appliances, packaging and decoration items, puja materials, crackers, gift articles, cakes, bakery and confectionery products. Additionally, travel, cab services, restaurants, and the hospitality sector also saw significant business activity.

Praveen Khandelwal, Member of Parliament from Chandni Chowk and National Secretary General of CAIT, said the festival not only strengthened family relationships but also gave a strong boost to the nation’s economy, reaffirming the importance of India’s “Sanatani economy.”

He said, “Bhai Dooj is not merely a family festival; it is the very soul of Indian culture that reinforces the spirit of love, sacrifice, and respect within familial relationships. On this occasion, traders across the country are promoting Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s call for ‘Vocal for Local’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ by encouraging the sale of indigenous products.”

Khandelwal further informed that sales of Swadeshi (indigenous) products increased by nearly 50 per cent this year, with record growth particularly seen in sweets, traditional gift items, dry fruits, and handloom garments.

Khandelwal added that such festivals not only strengthen social harmony and family bonds but also demonstrate the economic strength of India’s non-corporate and non-agricultural sector, which continues to drive the nation’s growth journey.