Table of Contents
Right, listen up. Another year, another Dussehra. Comes around every year, same time, different day, usually. October 1st, 2025, that’s what the calendars say for this one, Vijayadashami. And let me tell ya, it ain’t just some date you circle on a cheap desk calendar. No, it’s a whole damn thing. Always has been.
I’ve been in this game, what, twenty-odd years now? Seen enough headlines to fill a library. And every single year, around this time, the whole damn country kinda shifts. Like a big ol’ beast stretching. People get a glint in their eye. They start looking at what they want, what they need, what they gotta buy. That’s how it works. That’s the real story, if you ask me.
You get the big retail boys, they’re already planning their big show. Stocking up, putting out the feelers, trying to figure out how to get folks through the doors. Or, more likely these days, how to get ’em clicking buttons online. It’s a mad dash, always is.
The Big Retail Play for Dussehra
You think these big chains just sit there? No chance. They’re like sharks, always moving. Think about Reliance Retail, the sheer scale of that operation, the sheer volume of stuff they push. From groceries to fashion, they want a piece of every pie. They’ve got their Smart Bazars, their Trends stores. They know people are gonna spend. They bank on it, literally. Their whole year, a lot of it, it depends on these big festival pushes. They run the numbers, gotta be precise. What sold last year? What didn’t? What new gadget do people want now?
Then you got the other giants, the Tata Group’s Trent for example, with their Westside stores. Always a pretty strong play there, solid threads, home goods. They’re not chasing the lowest price, usually. They’re chasing that feeling, that “I’m buying something good for the festival” feeling. People want new clothes for Dussehra, don’t they? Course they do. Always have. Makes you wonder if it’s more about the new shirt than the old stories sometimes. And Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail, they’re in that race too. Pantaloons, Louis Philippe, Van Heusen. All pushing hard. Seems like every second ad you see right now is about some ‘festival offer’. They call it an offer, I call it a hook.
The Online Juggernaut and Dussehra
People are sitting on their couches, phones in hand. It’s too easy these days. You just tap, tap, tap, and presto, a washing machine shows up on your doorstep. That’s where Amazon India comes in, doesn’t it? Prime, free shipping, next day delivery, whatever. They’ve really got a stranglehold on some markets. And Flipkart, Walmart’s big bet over here. They’re always duking it out, throwing discounts around like confetti. Big Billion Days, some daft name like that. But it works, doesn’t it? People fall for it. Every single year, the numbers just climb.
Myntra too, if you’re into fashion and such. The way they push their sales, it’s almost a science. They know what the masses want, what the influencers are wearing. It’s all connected, a big old tangled web. I remember a few years back, everyone was talking about how online wouldn’t replace the physical shops. What was that all about? Seems like it’s doing a pretty good job of it now, at least for some things. Though, I still like to feel the fabric myself, can’t do that online, can you? It’s a different experience. What’s going to happen to all those big malls, I wonder? Empty spaces, probably. Or maybe they’ll just become warehouses for online returns. That’s a thought.
New Wheels and Shiny Baubles
You want to see real excitement for dussehra 2025? Go to a car dealership. Or a jewelry store. It’s like Christmas, New Year, and your birthday all rolled into one. People believe buying big stuff on Vijayadashami, on Dussehra, brings good luck. Or they just need an excuse to spend. One of the two.
The Car companies are Primed
Maruti Suzuki, they’re the kings of the road here, aren’t they? They’ll be putting out special editions, limited time offers, low interest rates. Anything to get you to sign on the dotted line. They know a big chunk of their annual sales happen around this time. Always does. Then you’ve got Hyundai Motor India, always snapping at their heels, pushing their own deals. Everyone wants a new ride. And Tata Motors, they’re making a strong play too, with their electric stuff. It’s a whole different ballgame now, isn’t it? Electric. Who would’ve thought even five years back, people would be lining up for an electric car? Not me, that’s for sure. Used to be all about the engine size, now it’s the battery range. Times change.
And these showrooms, they’ll be packed. People showing up, families, looking at the dashboards, kicking the tires. It’s a ritual. I saw a fella last year, his kids were practically living in the demo car. Couldn’t get them out. Said they were “testing the comfort.” Right.
Jewellery’s Golden Opportunity
This is where the real money moves. Gold. Always gold. Tanishq, they’re the big name, part of Titan. Their advertising campaigns around Dussehra, they hit you right in the gut. Family, tradition, prosperity. It’s smart, real smart. Then you’ve got Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Kalyan Jewellers. They’re all jostling for position. People line up for gold, silver, diamonds. It’s considered auspicious to buy precious metals on Dussehra. Ask anyone. They’ll tell you.
“Is it really true, sir, that buying gold on Dussehra brings good fortune?” Kid asked me that once, fresh out of journalism school. I just looked at him. “Son,” I said, “it brings good fortune for the jeweller, that’s what it brings.” He didn’t laugh. Kids these days. But honestly, the amount of gold that moves on that one day, it’s mind-boggling. It tells you something about a culture, doesn’t it? How deep traditions run, even in a world where everything else seems to be changing at light speed.
Property and Travel: Big Ticket Dussehra
It’s not just small stuff. People make their big moves around festivals. Buying a house, booking that holiday. It’s a push, you see. Everyone wants to start something new on an “auspicious day.”
Real Estate’s Festival Bump
Houses, apartments. Big purchases. Builders like DLF, they know the drill. They’ll have schemes, payment plans, maybe even throw in a free parking spot or something. Whatever it takes. Godrej Properties, they’re always in the mix, too. And Prestige Group, especially down south. They’re all about timing these launches. It’s not random. It’s planned, meticulously. They know the sentiment. People feel good, they feel positive, they feel like it’s the right time for a big life step.
“Do real estate prices really go up around Dussehra?” Another rookie question. Look, demand goes up, doesn’t it? So, prices, they tend to firm up. Supply and demand. Basic economics, even I understand that. What’s truly interesting is how many people actually close deals. It’s a mental thing, for sure. They want to be able to say, “Yeah, we signed the papers on Dussehra.” Like it makes the house stronger or something.
Getting Away from It All
And then there’s travel. Folks booking holidays. Short breaks, long breaks, flying home to see family. MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip, they’re all over it. Special flight deals, hotel packages. They know people are ready to splurge a bit. A lot of families use the festival break to go visit relatives in another city, or just to get away for a few days. Why not, right? You work hard all year. You deserve a break. Or so they tell us.
And Thomas Cook India, they’re still in the game, aren’t they? Old school, but they got their loyal customers. They push those group tours, the fixed itineraries. Some people like that, you know. Don’t want to think about anything, just want to be told where to go and what to see. Simple.
The Marketing Machine for Dussehra 2025
This whole thing doesn’t just happen. It’s pushed. Hard. These advertising and marketing agencies, they’re the real unsung heroes, or villains, depending on your view. They create the desire, they fan the flames.
Top Ad Agencies at Play
Ogilvy India, they’ve been doing this forever. They know how to tap into the emotions, the cultural nuances. Their campaigns usually hit you right in the heart. Or the wallet. Sometimes both. And MullenLowe Lintas Group, they’re right there too, crafting messages that stick. And McCann Worldgroup India, another big player. They’re all trying to figure out the pulse of the nation, what makes people tick, what makes them open their purses for dussehra 2025. It’s a psychological game, really. And they’re damn good at it.
“Is advertising around Dussehra different from other times of the year?” Of course, it is. It’s heavier, it’s more direct, it’s more about aspiration and tradition. It’s not just about a product; it’s about what that product means in the context of the festival. A new fridge ain’t just a fridge; it’s bringing prosperity to your home, see?
And the event management firms, for the big Ramleela celebrations, the actual effigies burning, the street shows. Wizcraft International Entertainment, they’re known for putting on big spectacles. And Fountainhead MKTG, they’re in that game too. Making sure these traditions are presented grandly, so people come out, gather, and feel that sense of community. It’s a balance, isn’t it? Tradition and spectacle. Some say it’s gotten too much about the spectacle. I wouldn’t disagree.
The Bankers’ Big Dussehra Grab
Money moves. Lots of it. And where there’s money moving, the banks are right there, hands out.
Banks Making Festival Loans
HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, SBI – they’re all pushing loans. Personal loans, consumer durable loans, car loans. Easy EMIs, low interest rates, that’s what they’re shouting. They know people want to buy, but maybe don’t have all the cash right there. So, they provide the means. It’s good for them, good for the consumer, supposedly. But you gotta pay it back, don’t forget that. I’ve seen too many folks get themselves into a hole chasing the festival high.
“Should I take a loan for festival shopping?” That’s a question I hear a lot. My answer? Only if you absolutely, positively know you can pay it back without breaking a sweat. Otherwise, just save up. It’s a festival, not a mandate to go broke.
See, Dussehra, it’s not just a religious thing. Not anymore, not entirely. It’s an economic engine. It sets the tone for the whole damn festival season that follows. Diwali, Christmas, all of it. The retailers, the car dealers, the gold merchants, they’re all watching those numbers from Dussehra. It’s like a barometer, tells them what kind of year they’re gonna have. If folks are spending on Dussehra, they’ll spend on Diwali. Simple as that. It’s been proven, year after year.
What’s the Real Story Beyond the Spending?
You ask me, beyond all the ads and the sales pitches, what’s really going on? People need a break. They need a reason to celebrate. Life’s tough, right? Work, bills, traffic. So, you get this period, this festival, where for a few days, you can just… breathe. Go out, see the Ramleela, watch the effigies burn. It’s cathartic, in a way. Ravan going up in flames. All your troubles, your worries, going up with him. That’s the real appeal for a lot of people. It’s not just a grand show, or a day off. It’s the ritual, the history. My grandmother, she always said it was about good over evil, plain and simple. And you know what? Maybe she was right.
It’s interesting, you get these conversations around the newsroom. Some young whippersnapper will ask, “Sir, is Dussehra still relevant?” And I just chuckle. Relevant? It’s as relevant as a paycheck, son. Maybe more so. Because for millions, it’s a marker. A time to pause, reflect, and yeah, spend a bit.
There’s always talk about how traditions are fading. About how the younger generation doesn’t care. Rubbish. You see the crowds at the Ramleela grounds? Packed to the gills. The kids, glued to the shows. Their parents, showing them how it’s done. My own nephew, he went to a Durga Puja pandal last year, somewhere in Kolkata, he’d never seen anything like it. Phoned me up, jaw dropped. Said it was bigger than any concert he’d ever been to.
So, for dussehra 2025, expect the same. The crowds. The deals. The arguments over who got the better price on that new washing machine. And somewhere, amidst all that hubbub, a quiet moment where someone, somewhere, remembers what it’s all really about. The victory. The good over the bad. And that, my friend, that ain’t for sale. That’s just… there. It always has been. And it always will be. Makes you think, doesn’t it? All that noise, all that money, for something so simple at its core. It’s a paradox, that’s what it is. A beautiful, messy, noisy paradox. Just like life, I suppose.
