New Delhi, 06 November (H.S.): The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has projected that business across the country during the Dhanteras festival on Friday will exceed Rs. 1 lakh crore. Gold and silver sales alone are expected to account for more than Rs. 60,000 crore on this major festive shopping occasion.

CAIT National Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said on Friday that despite the significant rise in gold and silver prices across major markets, consumer enthusiasm for the festival remained exceptionally strong. He noted that people were continuing to make traditional purchases associated with Dhanteras, which is regarded as one of the most important shopping occasions during the Diwali festive season.

The All India Jewellers and Goldsmith Federation (AIJGF) said buyers were showing considerable interest not only in traditional investment products such as gold and silver but also in lightweight jewellery across different categories. Traders reported that elevated prices of precious metals had not dampened the festive buying sentiment. Instead, demand for lightweight ornaments, silver coins and traditional gift items had gained momentum. They particularly highlighted strong demand for lightweight gold jewellery in 14-carat and 18-carat categories.

According to AIJGF, customers are also purchasing silver coins, decorative articles and auspicious figurines depicting fish, tortoises and elephants, which are traditionally considered symbols of good fortune. The trade body said it would release a detailed nationwide assessment later in the day after evaluating prevailing sales trends and consumer responses across different markets.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar