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By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on November 11, 2025
Indians swapped kaju katlis and barfis for Kunafa chocolates, the famous Bihari Thekua, and even protein bars this festive season, according to a new report by GoKwik.
GoKwik, India’s leading eCommerce enabler, released its analysis of D2C festive food trends, presenting a Great Indian Festive Food Map shaped by three powerful forces, Nostalgia, Viral Trends, and Wellness.
Based on data from October, the report reveals that D2C brands are not just selling sweets anymore, they’re shipping emotion, identity, and a taste of home. Among all categories, chocolate emerged as the clear winner, with order volumes surpassing the combined total of all other festive items. Its long shelf life, versatility, and universal appeal have made it the new digital shagun, redefining how India gifts sweetness online.
While chocolates led the numbers, traditional sweets fueled a Nostalgia Economy. Thekua, a beloved prasad from Bihar made during the ancient Hindu festival Chhath, became the only regional sweet to record sales in every Indian state and union territory. Interestingly, its top buyers were not from Bihar or Uttar Pradesh but from West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Delhi, showing how India’s migrant population now uses D2C platforms to send home a slice of their roots.
Meanwhile, global influences left a strong flavor. Kunafa, the viral Middle Eastern “Dubai chocolate” dessert, saw an extraordinary rise, with nearly half of its D2C orders originating from Kerala, highlighting the state’s deep cultural and familial connections with the Gulf region.
The Wellness Economy also made its mark. Protein bars became the unexpected celebration snack of the season, particularly in Maharashtra, Delhi NCR, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka. The shift showcases a growing preference among health-conscious consumers to seek “guilt-free” indulgence and mindful celebration through D2C platforms.
GoKwik’s report also highlighted untapped opportunities. Sweets like rasgulla and gujiya remain dominated by local halwais and quick-commerce players, suggesting room for “premium D2C fresh” brands to emerge. Similarly, Soan Papdi, the iconic last-minute gifting sweet, reflects a gap for more thoughtful, planned gifting experiences that D2C businesses can capture.
Commenting on the findings, Chirag Taneja, Co-founder and CEO of GoKwik, said,
“Festive commerce is no longer defined by geography, it’s defined by identity. Thekua trending in Mumbai or a Middle Eastern dessert peaking in Kerala shows how migration, media, and modern lifestyles are reshaping what India buys during festivals. For D2C brands, these insights are not just cultural curiosities, but growth signals. The brands that localize, personalize, and adapt to emotion-led commerce will own the next wave of festive demand.”
As the festive D2C economy continues to expand, India’s sweet box tells a modern story, one that blends nostalgia with novelty, tradition with wellness, and emotion with convenience. It mirrors a connected nation that celebrates with both heart and modernity.
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By Hariharan U
Published on June 30, 2026
Aditya Birla Housing Finance Limited (ABHFL), a subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Limited, has expanded its presence in New Delhi with the launch of a new branch in Shahdara. With this addition, the company now operates four branches in the capital, strengthening its distribution network in one of India’s key housing finance markets.
Shahdara, a well-connected and steadily developing residential locality, continues to witness consistent housing demand supported by strong metro and rail connectivity and proximity to key commercial hubs across Delhi and the NCR region. ABHFL’s new branch aims to improve accessibility to tailored housing finance solutions for homebuyers in the area.
The company offers a wide range of housing finance products including affordable housing loans, prime housing loans, construction finance, and loans against property. These services cater to salaried individuals, self-employed professionals, and emerging income groups, supported by a digital-first onboarding system that enables faster approvals and improved transparency.
To mark the launch, ABHFL has introduced a limited-period offer featuring zero login fees along with spot loan sanctions of up to ₹50 lakh. The offer is valid from June 24 to June 30, 2026, and is designed to encourage quicker and more affordable access to home financing.
Speaking on the expansion, Pankaj Gadgil, MD & CEO of Aditya Birla Housing Finance Limited, said that New Delhi remains a key growth market for the company. He added that ABHFL is focused on deepening customer engagement by combining its expanding physical presence with strong digital capabilities to simplify the home loan journey.
The expansion aligns with ABHFL’s broader strategy of strengthening its retail lending portfolio while promoting financial inclusion and delivering a smoother, customer-centric “Happy Home Loan Journey” for borrowers across India.
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India's largest hospitality company, has expanded the footprint of its Ginger brand with the opening of Ginger Siwan, Chapra Road in Bihar and Ginger Agra Fatehabad Road in Agra.
Commenting on the expansion, Ms. Deepika Rao, Executive Vice President – Hotel Openings & New Businesses, IHCL, said, "With the launch of Ginger hotels in Siwan and Agra, Ginger continues to strengthen its presence across India’s commercial and cultural cities. Siwan is rapidly emerging as a center for trade and commerce in Bihar, while Agra remains one of the country’s most iconic tourist destinations with strong demand from both domestic. The openings of Ginger Siwan and Ginger Agra reflect our strategy to expand in high-potential markets."
Located on Fatehabad Road, Ginger Agra Fatehabad Road features 70 keys, offering modern amenities and cityscape views. Guests can dine at Qmin, Ginger's signature in-house restaurant, which serves a selection of Indian, Mughlai and international cuisine. The hotel also includes a bar, providing a space for guests to relax and socialise.
In Bihar, Ginger Siwan, Chapra Road offers 30 keys designed for convenience, comfort and hassle-free stays. The hotel also features Qmin, the brand's all-day dining restaurant, serving a mix of local favourites and international dishes.
Both Ginger Siwan and Ginger Agra Fatehabad Road are equipped with banquet halls and meeting venues, making them suitable for corporate events as well as social gatherings.
Eight Continents Hotels & Resorts, the UK-based luxury hospitality and hotel management group, has announced the launch of Hanric, Varkala, further expanding the Hanric by Eight Continents brand in India. The new property marks another step in the group's strategy to strengthen its presence across high-potential travel destinations while growing its experiential hospitality portfolio in the country.
Located in the heart of Varkala, the hotel has been designed to reflect the destination's unique coastal charm while offering guests a contemporary and comfortable stay. Known for its scenic cliffside views, beautiful beaches, vibrant local culture and rising popularity as a wellness destination, Varkala continues to attract travellers looking for a mix of relaxation, exploration and authentic experiences.
Hanric, Varkala features 32 well-appointed rooms, along with a restaurant, bar and banquet facilities, making it suitable for leisure stays, intimate celebrations and social gatherings. Blending modern comforts with warm hospitality, the property offers guests an ideal base to explore Kerala's picturesque coastline.
Eight Continents Hotels & Resorts will manage the property by drawing on its expertise in delivering personalised guest experiences, operational excellence and destination-led hospitality. The company aims to establish Hanric, Varkala as a preferred stay option for visitors to the region.
Commenting on the launch, Ms. Richa Adhia, Managing Director, Eight Continents Hotels & Resorts, said, "The launch of Hanric, Varkala marks an important milestone in the growth of the Hanric by Eight Continents brand. Varkala's growing popularity as a coastal getaway makes it a natural fit for our vision of creating distinctive hospitality experiences rooted in place and culture. Through this property, we aim to offer travellers an authentic connection to the destination while further strengthening our presence in India's growing experiential hospitality landscape."
The launch reflects the group's continued focus on expanding in destinations with strong tourism potential and increasing demand for experience-led travel. Eight Continents Hotels & Resorts currently operates a diverse portfolio of brands, including Treetop, Hanric, Stamps, Ocho Homes and Signature Collection, across India, the United Kingdom and East Africa. Its growing presence includes destinations such as Belfast, Guernsey, Zanzibar, Kasauli, Udaipur, Sariska, Jodhpur, Pushkar and Varkala, highlighting the group's commitment to building a design-led hospitality portfolio across emerging and established travel markets.
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