Festive Season

Cakes 'n' bakes: India goes the whole hog on new Christmas indulgences

India's festive baking is evolving from being a nice community ritual to premium indulgence; Craft, nostalgia and personalisation now define the country's Christmas cake culture

Festive hiring in India rises 17% as gig, temporary jobs surge: Report

Overall hiring volumes grew by 17 per cent year-on-year across key consumption-linked sectors during the August-October period, driven by heightened consumer sentiment, attractive festive promotions, and wider geographic penetration, according to a report. According to the report by workforce solutions provider Adecco India, there was a 25 per cent surge in gig and temporary jobs compared to the same period in 2024. The report, based on an analysis of internal data and external reports, noted that the weeks leading up to Dussehra and beyond saw a sharp rise in temporary staffing across retail, e-commerce, BFSI, logistics, and hospitality. Adecco had projected 2.16 lakh gig and temporary jobs in 2025, and within just three months, the industry has seen 37 per cent growth in temporary hiring and 15-20 per cent uptick in deployment of gig workers, underscoring the strength of seasonal demand. "India's festive hiring this year reflects both economic confidence and the growing maturity

Festive season boosts Bajaj Finance consumer loan disbursals by 27%

Bajaj Finance disbursed 6.3 million consumer loans between September 22 and October 26, posting 29% growth in value and witnessing a sharp rise in new-to-credit borrowers

Health, motor insurance policy sales jump on GST exemption, festival cheer

The GST exemption on insurance and festive demand have driven strong growth in health, motor segments, with ICICI Lombard, SBI General, Star Health reporting sharp upticks in sales, premium collection

October car retail outpaces OEM dispatches to dealers, aided by GST reforms

Retail sales, however, outpaced wholesales as vehicles continued to move swiftly out of showrooms

A prayer, a click: India's faith-tech startups ride festival wave

Astroyogi, AstroSage AI, and AstroSure.AI see record traffic and sales as digital consultations, AI-based astrology, and pooja kit demand surge during festivals

Around 200 special trains to make 12,000 trips between Oct 1 and Nov 30

The Railway Ministry has released a list of 12,011 train trips scheduled between October 1 and November 30, 2025, suggesting that an average 196 special trains are operating daily from various destinations in the country to cater to the heavy festive rush. The highest number of special trains operated so far on a single day was around 280 on October 18, while the lowest was approximately 166 on October 8. Officials said that the ministry worked day and night for months with all the zones and divisions to identify and utilise all available coaches to ensure that passengers could reach their destinations in time to celebrate festivals. Almost all the coaches, including those sent for repair, were retrieved ensuring their fitness from all 70 railway divisions across the country to facilitate 12,011 trips based on passenger movements, a railway official said. However, a section of officials and railway activists claimed that the list includes not only some short-distance local trains b

Post-festival detox: Simple ways to reset and recharge your system

Once the Diwali lights dim and the sweets are gone, your body needs a breather. A mindful detox with hydrating drinks, antioxidants, and probiotics can help your gut recover after the festive rush.

Festive rush propels Skye Air to target 300k drone shipments this October

Drone startup Skye Air expects record festive volumes, partners with Blue Dart, DTDC, Shiprocket, and Ecom Express; plans city-wise expansion to Bengaluru and beyond in 2025

Vaishnaw visits railways war room, encourages staff morale for festive duty

Vaishnaw conducted a surprise inspection of Anand Vihar Railway Station today to ensure passenger safety and convenience during the festive season

Gourmet mithai glitters this Diwali, some priced beyond Rs 1 lakh a kg

From gold-infused barfi to Biscoff peda, sweet-makers across India are reinventing traditional mithai with luxurious twists

The festive rush: How FMCG sector is driving Diwali purchases and demand

With Diwali just around the corner, the FMCG sector is seeing strong sales across categories, with edible oils, dairy, and snacks driving festive demand

Diwali travel demand sets the tone for year-end holiday rush, high fares

Domestic and overseas travel surge 20-30% as Indians book flights and hotels early, with Goa, Varanasi, and Thailand topping demand charts

The spending season: What Diwali reveals about India's consumer mood

As the country prepares for the Diwali festival, credit card swipes, UPI transfers and gold sales from previous years reveal how people feel about their wallets and their future

Lit or dim? Delhi firework traders wait for Supreme Court's spark

After years of ban, markets in national capital hold their breath for a green light

Signed, sealed, delivered: Delhivery's Q2 payoff on e-commerce boom

Record orders and rising profitability show the network is hitting full stride

Sweet, sleek, sustainable: India Inc's Diwali gifts get thoughtful

From sweet offerings such as biscoff Mathura peda or medjoul dates to utilitarian choices like handcrafted brass articles or multipurpose travel kits, this year's hampers are unconventional

K Rammohan Naidu asks airlines to ensure reasonable fares in festive season

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Friday held a review meeting with officials of airlines to assess their operational and technical performance, and asked them to keep airfares at reasonable levels during the festive season. Representatives of Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, Akasa Air, Alliance Air, Fly91, FlyBig and IndiaOne Air, among others, participated in the meeting. They presented their performance metrics, including action taken reports on security incidents and passenger grievances, according to an official release. During the meeting with the airline representatives that went on for more than five hours, Naidu emphasised that they should strictly adhere to safety protocols. The periodic meeting also came against the backdrop of two incidents involving Air India's Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Naidu asked airlines to adopt best practices in passenger convenience and service quality. "Detailed discussions were held with each airline on identifying ...

One in three Indians duped by festive scams as AI, deepfake frauds surge

Nearly one in three Indians has faced festive season fraud as AI-powered scams, deepfake celebrity endorsements, and phishing cons target Diwali shoppers

E-way bill generation hits record high in September, shows GSTN data

According to experts, the surge in e-way bill volumes reflects a pick-up in goods movement ahead of the festive season