Pune: On Choti Diwali this year, Pune is back into its familiar festive rhythm, with crowded markets, kitchens stocked with faral and families plans around food, laughter and catching up.
“Even though you get everything online nowadays, and can order something that arrives home in 10-15 minutes, old customers still prefer coming to the store and buying all the samagri. During the festival season, demand generally increases by more than 60%. Our Diwali gift boxes, introduced three years ago, have grown from sales of 10,000 boxes to more than seven lakh this year,” Shinde said.
Besides, these items are much more expensive online than they are in the store,” said Pratap Joshi, a shopkeeper at Mandai. Yogesh Shinde, chief marketing officer at Chitale Bandhu, said the festive mood had translated into healthy business across the city. Despite the convenience of online shopping and quick deliveries, many continue to prefer buying these items in person, treating the errand itself as part of the Diwali ritual. That is also like a ritual. “The overall mood is upbeat. Diwali is incomplete without faral in Maharashtrian homes. We have also seen a significant shift in how customers buy festive treats. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Pune | Silver Rate in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune | Petrol Price in Pune | Diesel Price in Pune | CNG Price in Pune | LPG Price in Pune
That sense of familiarity extends to Pune’s markets, where Tulshibaug and Mandai were packed on Friday as shoppers made their final purchases of puja samagri, flowers, decorations and other festive essentials.