{
  "id": 18840912,
  "title": "Festival of Lights, Festival of Growth: A look at Diwali’s business impact in Canada",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/festival-of-lights-festival-of-growth-a-look-at-diwalis-business",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-08T01:48:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CityNews",
    "slug": "citynews",
    "url": "https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/11/07/diwalis-business-impact-in-canada/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by millions globally, marking a peak in festival shopping and driving significant economic activity. As the Indian diaspora grows, this economic surge extends beyond India, impacting Canada's retail and cultural landscape. Canadian car dealerships, such as Performance Auto Group in Ontario, are adapting to the festive buying trends by offering incentives like silver coins with vehicle purchases or leases. The impact of Diwali extends beyond car purchases, with shoppers buying clothes, gifts, and sweets, and retailers running promotions. Despite rising gold prices, Diwali buyers remain active, though their purchases are shifting to smaller, more affordable items. The affordability crisis has forced Canadian families to modify their spending habits, purchasing fewer but more items. Despite the challenges, businesses are still seeing the effects of Diwali. For instance, Rana Jewelers in Brampton reports a decrease in orders during the festive season, while a South Asian restaurant in Toronto notes a 50% drop in orders due to rising costs and immigration changes. In Canada, over 828,000 people identify as Hindu, with many observing Diwali in addition to other religious holidays. Ontario's Ministry of Tourism, Gaming, and Culture highlights the province's diverse population, which attracts visitors who contribute to local economies through accommodations, dining, and shopping. Toronto's Diwali Festival of Lights, which began weeks before the holiday, features music, dance, food, and clothing vendors, along with fireworks on October 25. Other cities, like Brampton, host large-scale Diwali Melas, attracting thousands of visitors and boosting local economies.",
  "summary": "As the Indian diaspora expands globally, this festive economic surge is no longer confined to the subcontinent - it is rapidly becoming a borderless retail and cultural phenomenon.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "Watch: PM Modi extends Diwali wishes, will celebrate festival with soldiers",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/watch-pm-modi-extends-diwali-wishes-will-celebrate-festival-with",
        "published": "2026-11-07T11:48:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "What is Diwali, the Festival of Lights, and how is it celebrated?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/what-is-diwali-the-festival-of-lights-and-how-is-it-celebrated",
        "published": "2026-11-07T23:01:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "PM Modi extends Diwali wishes, to celebrate festival with jawans today",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/pm-modi-extends-diwali-wishes-to-celebrate-festival-with-jawans-today",
        "published": "2026-11-08T01:06:29.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}