1. Diwali Brings Cheer to Traders as Markets Witness Increased Footfall in Bathinda, Mansa and Sehna

Markets across Punjab are witnessing increased activity ahead of Diwali, with shoppers visiting stores in large numbers for festive purchases. In Bathinda, jewellery shops have emerged as a major attraction, particularly for women buying gold, silver and artificial jewellery for the occasion.
 

Apart from jewellery, customers are also visiting shops selling clothes, footwear, cosmetics, sweets and gifts. Traders have decorated their establishments and displayed new varieties of products to attract festive shoppers.
 

Women are purchasing jewellery for Diwali celebrations as well as selecting gifts for family members and relatives. Lightweight ornaments, rings, earrings, chains and silver jewellery are among the popular choices. Customers are making purchases according to their preferences and budgets.
 

The festive atmosphere has brought cheer to local traders, who expect shopping activity to increase further in the coming days. Markets are likely to remain busy until late evening as the festival approaches.
 

Dhanteras Brings Crowds to Sehna Markets
 

Sehna: Markets in the Sehna area witnessed considerable activity on Dhanteras, with large numbers of people visiting shops. Utensil stores attracted a significant crowd, while customers also purchased silver jewellery as part of their festive shopping.
 

Consumers Turn to Dry Fruits and Fresh Fruits Instead of Sweets
 

Mansa: A noticeable change in shopping preferences has been observed in Mansa ahead of Diwali. Concerns about the sale of adulterated and poor-quality sweets have encouraged many consumers to choose dry fruits, fresh fruits and fruit preserves instead.
 

People are increasingly cautious about buying sweets amid fears of adulteration. As a result, sweet shops are reportedly seeing fewer customers, while fruit vendors are attracting larger crowds.
 

Variety stores and general stores are offering several types of fruit preserves, giving customers a range of options based on their preferences and health considerations. Biscuits and other packaged food products are also witnessing good demand.
 

Shops are displaying products such as papaya, kiwi, pineapple, bananas, oranges, apples and dry fruits. Packaged sweets, including soan papdi, rasgullas and gulab jamuns, are also available in the market.
 

Shopkeepers say consumers have become more conscious about their purchases and increasingly prefer products they consider beneficial for their health. These items are also being selected as festive gifts for relatives and family members.
 

Speaking about the changing trend, Dr Sanyog Sethi and Dr Jaspreet Kaur said growing consumer awareness had increased demand for packaged and pure food products, which also helps reduce the risk of adulteration to a considerable extent.
 

They advised people to avoid consuming brightly coloured sweets during festive celebrations such as Diwali to prevent potential health risks.
 

The changing shopping preferences indicate that consumers are increasingly paying attention to food quality and health while making festive purchases.