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Business
Delhi Traders Ask Sonia Gandhi to Delay Nov 1 Ramlila Over Rs 10,000 Cr Business Risks
✍️ The Economic Times
🗓 30 Oct 2026, 10:53 PM
👁 1
Traders in Delhi warned that the scheduled November 1 Ramlila could jeopardise businesses worth about Rs 10,000 crore and have appealed to Sonia Gandhi to postpone the event.
Delhi’s wholesale and retail traders gathered outside the Indian National Congress office on Monday, urging senior leader Sonia Gandhi to reconsider the November 1 staging of the city’s traditional Ramlila. The merchants argued that the large‑scale cultural program, set to take place in central Delhi, would severely disrupt foot traffic and logistics for businesses that generate roughly Rs 10,000 crore in annual turnover.
According to the traders’ association, the Ramlila’s expected crowd of tens of thousands, combined with road closures around the performance venue, would block access to market streets, delay deliveries and force many shops to shut temporarily. They contend that the financial impact on small and medium enterprises could be irreversible, especially for those already coping with post‑pandemic recovery challenges.
The appeal was formally submitted to Sonia Gandhi’s office, which has not yet issued a public response. Officials from the Delhi municipal corporation indicated that they are reviewing the concerns but emphasized the cultural significance of the Ramlila, which draws large numbers of devotees each year.
If the event proceeds as planned, traders fear a ripple effect on supply chains and consumer spending across the capital. The association has called for either a postponement or relocation of the performance to a less commercial area to safeguard the city’s economic activity.
According to the traders’ association, the Ramlila’s expected crowd of tens of thousands, combined with road closures around the performance venue, would block access to market streets, delay deliveries and force many shops to shut temporarily. They contend that the financial impact on small and medium enterprises could be irreversible, especially for those already coping with post‑pandemic recovery challenges.
The appeal was formally submitted to Sonia Gandhi’s office, which has not yet issued a public response. Officials from the Delhi municipal corporation indicated that they are reviewing the concerns but emphasized the cultural significance of the Ramlila, which draws large numbers of devotees each year.
If the event proceeds as planned, traders fear a ripple effect on supply chains and consumer spending across the capital. The association has called for either a postponement or relocation of the performance to a less commercial area to safeguard the city’s economic activity.