The Chhath Puja festival has brought a major economic boost to local markets across India, generating business worth more than ₹50,000 crore, according to an assessment by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).
CAIT’s survey revealed that over 10 crore people took part in Chhath celebrations this year, driving massive demand for traditional goods and local services.
Bihar Leads the Festive Spending
Bihar topped the list with business activity worth ₹15,000 crore, followed by Delhi at ₹8,000 crore and Jharkhand at ₹5,000 crore. Eastern Uttar Pradesh, especially the Purvanchal region, also saw a strong surge in trade.
CAIT Secretary General and MP Praveen Khandelwal said Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern UP remained the key centres of the festival, with large gatherings held along riverbanks and ponds. Delhi and the NCR region also witnessed high spending, reflecting the strong presence of the Purvanchali community.
The Delhi government constructed nearly 1,500 ghats and made significant investments in sanitation, lighting, and safety measures to support the celebrations.
Swadeshi Chhath Drives Local Market Growth
This year’s celebrations saw markets nationwide promote the “Swadeshi Chhath” campaign to encourage the sale of locally made goods. Artisans, bamboo basket makers, and jaggery producers benefited as consumers chose traditional products over imported items.
Sales surged for puja essentials like bananas, sugarcane, coconuts, grains, sweets (thekua and laddoos), and items such as baskets, diyas, flowers, and clay utensils. Demand also rose for services related to ghat construction, lighting, sanitation, and boat rides.
Government Initiatives Boost Festive Demand
Khandelwal noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push for Swadeshi products and the recent GST rate cuts played a significant role in driving sales during the festive season. The economic momentum from the GST Savings Festival and Diwali sales carried over into Chhath Puja, further lifting consumer confidence and spending across sectors.
He added that even non-traditional states such as Odisha, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, and West Bengal recorded brisk trade as migrant communities celebrated the festival with enthusiasm.
Chhath Puja, one of India’s most spiritually significant festivals, continues to strengthen not only cultural ties but also the local economy, reaffirming the growing power of India’s “Sanatan Economy” — rooted in tradition, community, and indigenous enterprise.
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