Ahead of Diwali day on Sunday, 8 November 2026, the Federation of Surat Trade & Textile Associations (FOSTTA) and leading market managing committees have published auspicious Choghadiya time slots for the annual Chopda Pujan. While wholesale business transactions remain closed during the 10-day festive recess, over 65,000 commercial gaddis across Ring Road, Sahara Darwaja, and Saroli will open for ceremonial rituals marking the entry into Vikram Samvat 2083.
Auspicious Chopda Pujan Muhurats for Surat (8 November 2026)
According to local panchang and temple scholars in Surat, the primary auspicious windows for ledger veneration on Kartik Amavasya are:
- Morning Choghadiya (Labh & Amrit): 09:36 AM to 12:23 PM (Preferred for multi-storey AC markets).
- Afternoon Slot (Shubh): 01:47 PM to 03:11 PM.
- Pradosh Kaal & Evening Sthir Lagna (Shubh, Amrit & Chhal): 05:58 PM to 08:23 PM (Highest preference for traditional textile gaddis performing joint Lakshmi-Sharda Puja).
- Late Night Muhurat (Labh): 02:00 AM to 03:36 AM (Early hours of 9 November).
Worshipping Cloud ERPs Alongside Red Cloth Books
Inside trading towers like Millennium Market, Raghukul Market, and Surat Textile Market (STM), traders will perform the traditional vidhi using vermilion (kanku), sandalwood paste, rice grains, and marigold garlands. Along with the traditional red cloth-bound ledger (khatavahi), merchants will venerate computer billing servers, cloud accounting terminals, and electronic currency safes.
Traders draw the sacred “Swastik”, “Shubh-Labh”, and “Shree” symbols on the first page of new books and write the opening prayer, seeking financial health and debt-free transactions for the upcoming business year.
Security and Power Isolation Protocols
FOSTTA officials have reminded shopkeepers that markets will permit entry strictly for puja rituals. Following recent safety advisories issued by the Surat Municipal Corporation’s Fire Department, traders must de-energize air conditioning circuits and main distribution boards before locking showrooms after the ceremony, ensuring complexes remain safe through the rest of the holiday recess until trading officially restarts on Labh Pancham (16 November 2026).