By Sumayya
Sunday marks Diwali, or the Festival of Lights, for millions of individuals all around the world. Frequently spoken of as the ‘Festival of Growth’ inside India, it stands as the time of peak holiday shopping when massive brands introduce their most ambitious products and advertising businesses put out the most creative storytelling holding high-end festive feelings.
The season sits at the center of Indian commerce, where cultural celebrations generate a helpful boost for the economy.
As the Indian community grows globally, this festive economic jump is no longer limited to the subcontinent—it is fast turning into a borderless shopping and cultural event.
The car-buying habit during Diwali in India has crossed over borders straight into Canada. A number of Greater Toronto Area (GTA) car dealerships are tilting toward these festive buying habits with purchase deals and other rewards, similar to what Performance Auto Group in Ontario is doing, giving participating buyers a one-ounce silver coin alongside the purchase or lease of a car.
Indo-Canadian cultural speaker Darshan Maharaja points toward the clothing, gifts, and treats people purchase, along with sales promotions from major shop owners, as signs of how visible Diwali has turned into inside Canada’s shopping calendar.
“In a way, one can say that the Christmas spending season starts one month early because of Diwali,” he informed OMNI News inside an email message. A month of various celebrations leads up to the special day, and one such day is Dhanteras—which roughly translates over to the Day of Wealth. On this specific day, Indian families purchase gold or silver, while another holiday custom arrives in the shape of a box of Mithai, or South Asian treats, to share around with friends and family members.
Even though the affordability crisis has placed a tight squeeze on Canadian family budgets, families will not cancel Diwali; instead, they shift how they spend their cash.
“People used to buy bigger products, now they are buying smaller things, but they are buying more of them,” stated Vikram Rana, the owner of Rana Jewelers located in Brampton.
At the identical time, some businesses are witnessing the true effects of global uncertainty.
“We used to get quite a lot of orders during the festive season, but now the orders have almost gone down 50 per cent,” shared Soumya, who manages a small South Asian eating place in downtown Toronto. She told OMNI News that rising costs and alterations to immigration rules, including a lower number of international students, has hurt their business sales.
In Canada, close to 828,000 individuals reported Hinduism as their religion inside the 2021 census records. About 772,000 individuals reported Sikhism and 8,300 individuals reported Jainism. Diwali stands as a major Hindu festival, but at the same time, Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas and Jains observe Mahavir Diwas, which are separate religious events that also hold traditions featuring light.
Ontario’s Ministry of Tourism, Gaming and Culture informed OMNI News that the province’s variety of people draws in visitors who spend nights in local rooms, eat at restaurants, shop at local stores, and support main street business economies.
“Since 2018, approximately $520,000 in funding support has been provided through Experience Ontario to Diwali-related festivals and events. Festivals and events supported through Experience Ontario help communities attract visitors who stay in local accommodations, dine at restaurants, shop at local businesses and support main street economies,” they explained inside an official statement.
In Toronto, the holiday celebrations kicked off weeks before the main festive day. At Nathan Phillips Square, the Diwali Festival of Lights brought along music, dancing, and sellers offering food and clothing to the city’s downtown center before coming to an end with a fireworks display on October 25. Another gathering at Mel Lastman Square featured 50 sellers and more than 150 stage performers. And Brampton, the Canadian city holding the biggest South Asian population, is hosting a Diwali Mela festival on November 8.
