India’s extended wedding season, with 47 auspicious days from October 2024 to March 2025, has fueled record sales across categories like gold jewelry, ethnic wear, motorbikes, and staples. Despite rising gold prices, demand remains robust as weddings drive consumption in India’s $130 billion market, the second largest globally. Brands like Tanishq, Kalyan Jewellers, and Tasva reported significant growth. Sectors such as food, apparel, and automotive also benefited. February’s GST collections rose 9.1%, reflecting the economic boost from this vibrant season.
India’s wedding season has brought a wave of economic optimism, with a stretched calendar of auspicious days since November fueling record sales across various discretionary categories. From gold jewelry and ethnic wear to motorbikes and staples, businesses are witnessing a remarkable surge in demand over the past four months.
Leading jewelry brands like Tanishq, Kalyan Jewellers, and Senco Gold have reported strong same-store sales growth. Even a 30%-plus increase in gold prices over the past year has not deterred buyers, as gold remains integral to traditional Indian weddings. “The wedding demand is very strong,” noted Ramesh Kalyanaraman, Executive Director of Kalyan Jewellers India, who emphasized that weddings cannot wait despite fluctuations in gold prices. “From Q3 (October-December) to now, gold prices have increased by around 7%... But wedding sales cannot wait for more than a week. So, they immediately come up,” he explained.
The Indian wedding calendar between October 2024 and March 2025 boasts 47 auspicious days, a significant increase compared to earlier months. This extended season has given businesses a much-needed boost, following a slower first half of the fiscal year with fewer auspicious days. Valued at $130 billion annually, India’s wedding market is the second largest globally—only behind China—and contributes significantly to consumption, second only to food and groceries, as highlighted by beauty retailer Nykaa in its earnings call. Upper-mid and high-income households account for 50% of this market, driving substantial spending.
Sunil Kataria, CEO of Raymond Lifestyle, acknowledged some challenges in urban discretionary spending but expressed optimism. “Secondary sales (from retail to consumer) is very healthy,” he said, attributing the growth to the staggered wedding season spread over four months. Food giants like Amul have also experienced high double-digit growth in the January-March quarter, driven by wedding-related demand, according to managing director Jayen Mehta.
The automotive sector, too, is reaping benefits. Hero MotoCorp, India’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, anticipates strong sales in February and March, with sales head Ashutosh Varma attributing this to the wedding season. Meanwhile, Senco Gold’s managing director, Suvankar Sen, called the ongoing wedding season “extraordinarily strong,” projecting continued momentum until April. He noted that the impact of rising gold prices on volumes has been minimal due to robust wedding demand.
Apparel retailers have also reported significant growth, particularly in ethnic wear. Brands like Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail, Shoppers Stop, and Raymond Lifestyle are experiencing increased footfalls during the wedding season. Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail’s ethnic wear segment grew 7% year-on-year last quarter, while premium men’s ethnic brand Tasva reported over 50% growth and achieved positive operating profits for the first time.
In the jewelry sector, Titan-owned Tanishq posted its strongest quarter of the fiscal in October-December, with 29% growth in wedding-related purchases and a 22% year-on-year same-store sales increase. Similarly, Kalyan Jewellers recorded 24% same-store sales growth during the festive and wedding season. Ajoy Chawla, CEO of Titan’s jewelry business, highlighted “ticket size growth” in gold and high-value studded pieces, driven by wedding-related purchases.
India’s economic indicators also reflect this vibrant activity. February’s gross goods and services tax (GST) collections surged by 9.1% year-on-year, signaling a robust economic rebound. The economy grew by 6.2% in the third fiscal quarter, up from 5.6% in the previous period, underscoring the positive impact of the bustling wedding season.
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