Administrator
18 October 2025
*Representational pictures show shop keepers busy selling their products on the Dhanterous on October 18, festival ahead of Diwali on October 20,2025.
Raghubir Shah has called his wife and mother-in- law to work and assist him and his two staff to cater to the high turn out of customers at his jewellery shop.
This over crowded jewellery shop is not an isolated case. All shops of jwellery, garments, automobile and flower shops are packed with customers in Ranchi, capital city of Jharkhand.
The businessmen are in cheers as shoppers are making brisk sales on the eve of Diwali, known as the event of the Dhanteras festival on Saturday.
On the Dhanteras event, sales of jewelleries and automobiles -scooters, mo- bikes, cars and garments rise every year. This year the sale and purchase of these products have sky rocketed amid the recent cuts in GST rates, businessmen said.
Sellers of automobiles, electronics and home appliances are over burdened with demand. This is indicative of the positive sentiment of consumers during the festival season.The jewellers are surprised as they were not expecting high demand due to skyrocketing gold prices, jewellers said.
Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries president Aditya Malhotra told PTI, "The recent cuts in Goods and Services Tax have given a boost to the market on Dhanteras this year, particularly in sectors of automobile and home appliances. Overall, we can say a positive sentiment prevails in the markets."
The same PTI report quotes a trader saying, the people seemed to be in a buying spree in the run-up to the Dhanteras and Diwali festivals, while sales were affected during the Durga Puja season due to incessant rainfall.
Dhanteras is a festival that marks the beginning of Diwali celebrations.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren extended his best wishes on the occasion of Dhanteras.
"This sacred festival of Dhanteras signifies good health, prosperity, and a bright future in our lives. On this holy occasion, may every home be filled with happiness, better health, and the light of prosperity. I wish for all of you to thrive and prosper," CM posted on X.
Malhotra said consumers are flocking to the markets on Dhanteras, which will give a boost to small businesses.
The federation has urged the trading community to pass on the benefits of GST rate cuts to the consumers and introduce offers to attract customers, Malhotra said.
The GST Council, comprising the Centre and states, had reduced tax rates on about 375 goods and services from September 22.
The council approved simplifying GST from the four slabs to a two-rate structure - 5 and 18 per cent.
According to automobile dealers, there is pre-booking for around 5,000 two-wheelers and 2,000 four-wheelers only in Ranchi.
"The demand for SUVs is high. Besides, there is a huge surge in demand for electric vehicles, mainly the two-wheeler," a trader said.
Malhotra said, "We are hoping that the overall sales would go up by 15-20 per cent compared to the previous Dhanteras."
The market of electronics goods is expected to attract major footfalls with a surge in demand for big-screen smart televisions, mobile handsets and sound systems.
