After festivities, Traders Gear Up for Lucrative Wedding Season

Following a prosperous Diwali season, traders across India are preparing for a bustling wedding season, set to kick off with Dev Uthani Ekadashi on November 12 and run through December 16. This period marks a high-stakes opportunity for the retail sector, as weddings boost demand for a wide range of goods and services.

A Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) study projects around 48 lakh weddings this season, generating nearly Rs 6 lakh crore in business. This marks a sharp increase from last year’s 35 lakh weddings, which brought in Rs 4.25 lakh crore. With 18 auspicious dates this season compared to 11 last year, traders anticipate even more robust sales. Delhi alone is expected to host 4.5 lakh weddings.

Key Wedding Dates

Acharya Durgesh Tare, Convenor of CAIT’s Veda and Spiritual Committee, has identified November 12, 13, 17, 18, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, and 29, and December 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, and 16 as auspicious dates for weddings this season. A brief pause will follow before the season resumes in mid-January through March 2025.

CAIT’s Secretary General and MP Praveen Khandelwal highlighted a growing preference for Indian-made products, aligning with the government’s Vocal for Local and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. CAIT’s estimates, based on inputs from 75 cities, indicate this trend in wedding-related purchases, though many weddings are expected on non-auspicious dates as well.

Key Expenditure Areas

Wedding spending is split between goods and services. Goods include clothing, sarees, lehengas, jewellery, electronics, groceries, and gift items. The services sector covers banquet halls, event management, tent and floral decoration, catering, transportation, photography, and music. Social media services for weddings are also a growing trend.

With extensive preparations underway, India’s wedding season promises significant economic activity, benefiting traders and reinforcing cultural traditions.