India’s festive shopping boom has reached staggering proportions, with nationwide Dhanteras retail sales touching a record ₹1.25 lakh crore. The scale of the business generated during the festive season can be put into perspective by comparing it with Pakistan’s economy, whose annual nominal GDP stood at approximately $407.3 billion in 2025.
At an exchange rate of around ₹89–90 to the US dollar, India’s Dhanteras retail sales of ₹1.25 lakh crore translate to approximately $14 billion. This is equivalent to nearly 3.4% of Pakistan’s entire annual GDP, highlighting the enormous scale of consumer spending during India’s festive season.
According to World Bank data, Pakistan’s nominal GDP reached approximately $407.3 billion in 2025. In comparison, Indian consumers spent an estimated ₹1.25 lakh crore on Dhanteras shopping alone, covering purchases across jewellery, gold, silver, automobiles, electronics, household goods and other retail categories.
The festive shopping momentum was not limited to major metropolitan centres. Several regions and smaller cities also reported business figures crossing the ₹300 crore mark.
In Prayagraj, jewellers recorded business exceeding ₹300 crore across Dhanteras and Diwali shopping, with easing gold and silver prices attracting customers to jewellery markets in Chowk and Civil Lines.
Bhadohi district in Uttar Pradesh also reported festive business exceeding ₹300 crore. The automobile sector contributed around ₹70 crore, while jewellery sales accounted for approximately ₹50 crore.
In Bihar’s Katihar district, the Chamber of Commerce estimated festive turnover at around ₹300 crore, driven by demand for lightweight jewellery, electronics and automobiles.
The demand for precious metals was particularly strong, with reports indicating that around 300 tonnes of silver were sold across India on Dhanteras.
The figures underline the scale of India’s festive consumption, with spending extending beyond major cities into smaller markets and regional commercial centres.