India's Wedding Season Set to Boost Economy with Rs 6.5 Lakh Crore and 1 Crore Jobs

Traditional artisans, jewellers, and textile producers are experiencing a significant increase in orders as India's wedding season approaches. (Representative)

New Delhi:

According to a report released on Thursday, India's upcoming 45-day wedding season, beginning November 1, is expected to generate an unprecedented Rs 6.5 lakh crore from approximately 46 lakh weddings nationwide.

The study indicates that Delhi alone is projected to contribute Rs 1.8 lakh crore from 4.8 lakh weddings, as reported by the CAIT Research and Trade Development Society (CRTDS).

Research conducted by the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) across 75 cities showed that expenditure per wedding has increased, despite the number of weddings remaining relatively stable compared to the previous year.

Praveen Khandelwal, CAIT Secretary General and Chandni Chowk MP, attributed this growth to higher disposable incomes, inflation in precious metals, and increased consumer confidence following a record-breaking festive season.

In 2024, 48 lakh weddings were conducted at a cost of Rs 5.90 lakh crore, compared to 38 lakh weddings at Rs 4.74 lakh crore in 2023.

The report highlights a pronounced shift toward Swadeshi (domestically produced) products, with over 70 percent of wedding-related purchases now being Indian-made, including apparel, jewellery, decorations, utensils, and catering supplies.

According to the report, CAIT's "Vocal for Local Weddings" initiative has substantially reduced the presence of imported items such as Chinese lighting, artificial decorations, and gift accessories.

The study notes that traditional artisans, jewellers, and textile manufacturers are experiencing a surge in orders, demonstrating the strength of India's local manufacturing and craftsmanship sectors.

Khandelwal stated that this wedding season could generate more than 1 crore temporary and part-time employment opportunities, directly benefiting decorators, caterers, florists, artists, transporters, and hospitality personnel.

He added that MSMEs in textiles, jewellery, handicrafts, packaging, and logistics will gain significant seasonal momentum from these activities.

The report estimates that the wedding season will contribute approximately Rs 75,000 crore to government tax revenues.

According to CAIT's sectoral analysis, jewellery will be the largest contributor to economic activity during the wedding season with a 15 percent contribution, while apparel and sarees will account for 10 percent.