Indore’s Ranipura Diwali market is seeing weaker footfall and slower sales this year, with shoppers choosing traditional diyas and smaller purchases over expensive decorative lights and elaborate home decor, traders told the Times of India.
The market is filled with artificial flower garlands, torans, hanging decorations, bells, beaded hangings, diyas and lights. However, shopkeepers said the bright displays have not translated into comparable buying. Customers are often examining products before leaving without making a purchase.
Shopkeeper Umesh Bhatheja said sales of decorative items at his shop were around 50% lower than last year. He attributed the decline to inflation and reduced spending capacity, saying many customers were returning to traditional diyas because they could not afford as much decoration as before.
Price sensitivity is particularly visible for decorative pieces costing around Rs 200-250, traders said. Since customers may need several such items to decorate their homes, the total expense is causing hesitation. Seller Akash Choudhary said all categories were selling in small quantities, but none had emerged as a strong favourite.
The weaker demand has also affected how traders are managing inventory. Kamal Chaudhary said his shop brought in less stock than last year in anticipation of lower sales. Other sellers, including Addhayyan Pal and Hussain Chopra, said they did not expect a significant improvement over last year’s demand and were concerned that some existing stock could remain unsold.
Traders said footfall could rise during the final days before Diwali, but they still expect sales to remain below last year’s levels. Traditional diyas, however, continue to be treated as a basic festive purchase that most households are unlikely to skip. Buyers also said many decorative designs appeared familiar, with changes largely limited to colour and style rather than genuinely new products.
