Following the conclusion of the peak outstation transport dispatch deadline on 31 October, the Federation of Surat Trade & Textile Associations (FOSTTA) held an executive council meeting to formalise the annual festival shutdown schedule. Surat’s 220+ wholesale cloth markets located across Ring Road, Salabatpura, Saroli, and Sahara Darwaja will officially observe their Diwali vacation starting from Thursday, 5 November 2026, and will reopen on Monday, 16 November 2026 (Labh Pancham).
Final Trading Days Focus on Local Cash Counter Sales
With interstate transport bookings closed for pre-Diwali guaranteed delivery, market activity over the next four days (1 to 4 November) will be restricted to spot cash-and-carry purchasing. FOSTTA President Hansraj Jain noted that retail shopkeepers from South Gujarat, North Maharashtra (Khandesh), and Saurashtra—who transport purchases via passenger vehicles or local overnight rail—are completing final replenishment runs for festive sarees, dress materials, and ready kurtis.
Weaving Sheds Advance Loom Shutdowns
In the industrial clusters of Sachin GIDC, Pandesara, Kim-Pipodara, and Anjani, weaving units are powering down looms earlier than commercial trading shops. Federation of Gujarat Weavers Association (FOGWA) representatives stated that escalating migrant worker departures at Surat and Udhna railway stations for Diwali and Chhath Puja have reduced machine shift occupancy below 40%.
Unit owners are utilizing the lull to grease machinery bearings, carry out motor rewinding, and dress warp beams with heavy jacquard and Dola silk yarns for the impending winter wedding season.
Clearance of Wages, Bonuses & Account Books (Chopda Pujan)
The primary administrative focus across trading complexes like Millennium Market and Raghukul Market has turned to settling accounting ledgers and disbursing worker bonuses. Traders are conducting reconciliation of outstanding bills before conducting traditional Chopda Pujan on Diwali day (Sunday, 8 November 2026).