The Federation of Surat Trade & Textile Associations (FOSTTA) has decided that every textile market in Surat will open on Sundays until Diwali. The decision, announced at the end of September 2026, means the city's wholesale markets will work seven days a week through the peak festive weeks. Diwali falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026.
Most Surat textile markets normally close on Sundays. Under the new arrangement, shops open as usual and the dispatch and transport of goods also continue on Sundays, so orders booked that day can leave without waiting for Monday.
Why FOSTTA made the change
The federation expects demand for sarees, dress materials and other fabrics to keep rising in the run-up to the festival. A large share of Surat's business comes from buyers in other states who travel to the city to select stock in person, and an extra working day gives them more time to visit markets, compare suppliers and book orders.
FOSTTA president Hansraj Jain and general secretary Dinesh Kataria have asked local traders to tell their customers and agents outside Surat that the markets are open on Sundays. Traders have also been asked to follow official announcements on the federation's FOSTTA Forum mobile app.
What buyers and traders should know
- The decision covers all Surat textile markets, not only selected buildings.
- Goods movement and transport continue on Sundays.
- The arrangement runs until Diwali. Timings can differ from market to market, so buyers should confirm with their supplier before travelling.
The extra trading day comes in a season when fabric prices are noticeably higher than last year, after increases in yarn, power, coal and processing costs. For many wholesalers, the Sundays are a chance to move festive stock before the usual slowdown after Diwali.