Dhanteras witnessed a massive surge in trade across India with gold and silver transactions reaching Rs 30,000 crore giving a dazzling start to the five-day Diwali festival beginning on November 10. The festive fervour also ignited purchases of automobiles, utensils, kitchen equipment, electronics and brooms.
November 10 is the first day of the week-long Diwali festivities in India. Dhanteras will be followed by the festival of Roopchaturdashi (November 11), Diwali on November 12, Govardhan Puja and Annakut on November 13 and Bhaiya Dooj on November 15.
Trade estimates
According to the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), trade across India on November 10 surpassed Rs 50,000 crore with Delhi alone contributing Rs 5,000 crore.
CAIT National President BC Bhartia and Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal highlighted that Dhanteras witnessed numerous purchases, including idols of deities Shri Ganesh, Shri Lakshmi and Shri Kuber; vehicles, gold and silver ornaments, as well as items like utensils, kitchen appliances, and electronics, and brooms which are considered auspicious to buy on this day. Besides, the purchase of earthen lamps, home and office decoration items, furnishing fabric and Diwali puja materials are also bought on the day of Dhanteras.
Pankaj Arora, the National President of All India Jewelers and Goldsmiths Federation, said there was a turnover of Rs 30,000 crore for gold, silver and other items across the country. The trade included gold goods worth approximately Rs 27,000 crore and silver transactions of Rs 3,000 crore.
Last year, this business on Dhanteras was approximately Rs 25,000 crore. The price of gold was Rs 52,000 per 10 gm whereas on November 10 it was Rs 62,000 per 10 gm. On the other hand, silver was sold for Rs 58,000 per kg last Diwali and now it is priced at Rs 72,000 per kg.
Approximately, 41 tonnes of gold and 400 tonnes of silver jewellery and coins were estimated to have been sold on Dhanteras so far.
Across India, there are around four lakh small and large jewellers with 1,85,000 registered under the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). An additional 2,25,000 small jewellers operate in areas where the BIS standards are yet to be implemented. The country annually imports around 800 tonnes of gold and 4,000 tonnes of silver from abroad.
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