Amazon and Flipkart See Festive Sale Surge

India’s festive shopping season has begun on a strong note, with Amazon and Flipkart reporting a surge in customer activity during the opening hours of their annual sales. Amazon said product orders doubled year on year at the start of its Great Indian Festival 2026, while Flipkart recorded 6.3 million concurrent users within a single minute during the first hour of its Big Billion Days sale. Smartphones, electronics, home appliances, fashion and beauty products attracted strong demand, with shoppers from smaller towns and non-metro markets contributing significantly. Discounts, bank offers, exchange deals and easy financing options also helped customers make purchases.

Both platforms reported notable growth across several categories. Amazon highlighted strong demand for premium smartphones, wearables, televisions, home theatre systems and large appliances, alongside brisk sales of clothing, footwear, skincare and fragrances. Flipkart reported growth in large appliances, tablets and beauty products, while its quick-commerce service, Flipkart Minutes, recorded 3.5 times its usual order volume during the opening hour. The platform also saw increased engagement through live shopping, short-form videos and voice search. While the early figures point to strong festive demand and wider participation beyond major cities, the overall performance of the sales season will depend on whether this momentum continues in the coming days.