NEW DELHI
Made in India lights are in higher demand than Chinese decorative lights that have dominated the markets for several years on Diwali. This is a big boost to the “Make in India” campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to support India-made products. People are mostly asking for Indian-made lights to decorate their houses on Diwali. The light market in Sadar Bazar in Delhi is flooded with Indian lights, and the shops selling these lights are full of buyers, while the shops selling Chinese-made lights have fewer customers.
The market in Sadar Bazar has approximately 50-60 shops, but hardly four-five shops have a stock of Chinese lights. The street vendors who sell lights in the market have Indian-made lights only. Devinder Singh, a street hawker selling decorative lights, said the durability and competitive pricing of locally manufactured lights had resulted in an increase in the sales of Indian lights. Earlier, the Indian lights were expensive in comparison to the Chinese lights, which gave them an edge, and customers preferred those lights. But since the Indian lights are durable and the customers need not replace them every year, they have started buying the Indian-made lights. The Chinese lights are not as durable, say customers.
“Customers ask whether the lights are Indian-made or Chinese before buying them,” said Narendra, a shopkeeper in the Sadar Bazar area who has been in this business for the last 10 years. “On customer demand, we have replaced Chinese lights with Indian-made ones. Customers demanded Indian-made lights, and as a result, we have stopped stocking Chinese lights,” he added. The popular lights this year are diamond-shaped LEDs, LED strips, lights shaped like traditional diyas, and old-school decorative items with light inside them. The price starts at as low as Rs 120 per piece. These lights are made by Indian companies at local facilities in the Bawana area of Delhi, Hapur in Uttar Pradesh, Ghaziabad, and other popular industrial areas in different parts of the country.
However, the situation is not the same with the fancy decorative lights. A few shops in the same market also sell luxury lights, and most of these lights are manufactured in international markets, including China.
Not only colorful lights but also locally made handicraft items, decorative items, and idols of Gods and Goddesses are also becoming popular among the people this Diwali. Keeping in mind the idea of “Vocal for Local”, customers are opting for locally manufactured goods for the Diwali celebrations.
Since a ban on firecrackers is in place in the national capital, consumers are opting for sound bombs. These sound bombs only produce sound and are pollution-free. “This alternative has helped us to celebrate an environment-friendly Diwali with firecrackers this time”, said Akash, a young college-going student who came to the Sadar Bazar market to buy firecrackers. “Although these are a bit more expensive than the traditional firecrackers, they are a good alternative, keeping in mind the current pollution scenario this Diwali,” added Akash.