Sunday 01 / November / 2026
Muscat: With Diwali approaching, sweet shops and jewellery stores across Muscat are witnessing a surge in demand, prompting businesses to ramp up production and operate multiple shifts to meet the festive rush.
Traditional Indian sweets such as kaju barfi, boondi laddoos, besan ghee laddoos, moong dal barfi, kaju dilbahar and sonpapdi are among the popular choices as Indian expatriates prepare to celebrate the Festival of Lights.
Meanwhile, jewellery shoppers are looking for gold coins, pendants and other pieces to mark the auspicious occasion.
“On Diwali, devotees offer sweets to gods and goddesses during puja and also serve them to guests. So, they need to buy large quantities of sweets. I believe people will buy as much this Diwali as they have in previous years,” said Ali Asghar Vajihi, director of Bombay Sweets.
He said Diwali remained an important occasion for sweet shops despite changing consumer preferences.
“Diwali comes only once a year, so I am sure people will not deprive themselves of their favourite sweets,” he said.
Customers shopping for the festival echoed his confidence.
“It is a custom, and we have to carry it on,” said Suraj Kumar, an Indian expatriate living in Oman.
Pallav Banerjee, a regional head at a private company, said he bought sweets for business contacts and employees every year.
“This year will be no different,” he said.
Vajihi said sales of Bengali sweets had also begun picking up alongside other varieties, with the shop operating in shifts in recent days to meet demand.
Bombay Sweets, a familiar name among Muscat residents, is offering a range of festive hampers featuring traditional sweets and savouries. “Celebrate the Festival of Lights with our premium sweet hampers, crafted with love and tradition since 1990. Whether for family or friends, our sweets make every moment sweeter and brighter,” Vajihi said.
The shop offers traditional favourites such as dilbahar, jhangri, motichoor laddoos and kaju cassata, alongside modern creations and sugar-free options.
Its festive gift boxes range from mixed sweet and namkeen hampers to dry-fruit assortments. “We make sure that our customers purchase not just the best-quality sweets, but also packaging that makes it worth the buy,” Vajihi said. With more than 100 varieties on offer, Bengali sweets, kaju katli, kaju rolls and motichoor laddoos are among the shop’s fastest-selling items during Diwali.
Jewellery sales pick up
The festive mood extends beyond sweet shops, with jewellery stores across Ruwi also witnessing a rush of customers buying gold for Dhanteras and Diwali. “Many shoppers are opting for small gold coins and pendants to mark the auspicious occasion, combining traditional customs with purchases suited to their budgets,” one of them said.
For Indian families across Muscat, Diwali is also an opportunity to reconnect with traditions and share the joy of the festival with friends and the wider community.
Sudha, who has lived in Muscat for 18 years, said her family’s celebrations were as much about giving as they were about festivities.
“We cook traditional food, invite friends who are like family, and prepare grocery gift packs for those in need,” she said.
Her home is decorated with lights, while she and her closest friends have maintained a cherished tradition of gathering for a special Diwali evening for nearly two decades.
“Diwali is about celebrating bonds with family, friends and everyone who is part of our lives. I like marking it with lights and laughter, not the noise of firecrackers,” she said.
Across Muscat, families are decorating balconies and windows with lights as they prepare to celebrate the festival, which symbolises the triumph of light over darkness.
Diwali, also known as Deepavali, derives its name from Sanskrit words meaning a row of lights. Lighting lamps is a central tradition, representing the victory of light over darkness.
Restaurants, hotels and other destinations across Muscat are also preparing special events and festive offerings to mark the occasion.
For many Indian expatriates, Diwali is more than a celebration. It is an opportunity to stay connected to their roots, preserve traditions and share the festive spirit with friends and the wider community while living away from home.
