Familiar lights, changing times: Diwali markets in Delhi find joy in familiar corners

By: Anushka Kogta

NEW DELHI: As the chill of early winter settles over Delhi, the city begins to shimmer with signs of celebration. Markets across the capital are coming alive with colour and light.

At Scindia Pottery in Sarojini Nagar, the earthy scent of mitti fills the air as rows of freshly molded diyas dry in the sun. Shopkeepers arrange their displays, customers bargain for deals and artisans paint intricate designs—the familiar rhythm of Diwali preparations. Yet, beneath the glow, subtle shifts mark the changing times.

Sushil Kumar, a decorator continuing a three-generation family trade, carefully paints a diya bright red. “Sales are steady, but the excitement isn’t what it used to be,” he says, hoping for the usual last-minute rush that brings the biggest crowds before Diwali.

For 77-year-old Suresh Chandra, the festival market has been a constant for five decades. He has been buying diyas from Scindia Pottery and selling them at Bengali Market in Connaught Place for half a century.

“Earlier, things were cheaper and people bought freely. GST has come down, but prices haven’t. Costs have gone up, and the crowds have thinned— it’s a risk we take,” he says.

Meanwhile, at Lajpat Nagar Market, the festive bustle continues. “Sales are about the same as last year. Weekends are the busiest,” says Ashok, a vendor who’s worked there for five years.

Shoppers, too, are embracing the spirit of the season. “The excitement for Diwali never really changes,” says Dipansha, 29, who works in Gurgaon. “My family shops for the basics in Haryana, and I do the rest here. I don’t burst crackers, but Diwali still feels just as special.”


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