Surat, October 18 – The Federation of Surat Trade and Textile Association (FOSTTA) has announced the schedule for Diwali holidays across the city’s textile markets. As per the announcement, all textile markets in Surat will remain closed from Monday, October 20, after the Diwali puja, until Sunday, October 26. Normal business operations will resume from Monday, October 27, when traders will also be allowed to perform traditional puja in their shops on the occasion of Labh Panchami.
As per agency report, FOSTTA has urged traders to remain cautious during the festive holidays to prevent incidents of theft or vandalism. The association’s president, Kailash Hakim, stated that the risk of such incidents generally increases during the festive break. He advised traders not to keep valuables or cash inside their shops, to replace old locks, and to avoid trusting unknown individuals or suspicious business orders during the closure period.
FOSTTA has also held a meeting with police officials and requested enhanced patrolling in and around the textile markets throughout the holiday week to maintain security and prevent any untoward incidents.
Industry sources indicated that although the markets will reopen on October 27, full business activity is expected to take around two weeks to return to normal. This delay is attributed to a shortage of workers, as many have traveled to their home states for the Bihar Assembly elections and are likely to return only after the festive period concludes.
