Untapped Merch Niches and Cultures: The Festival of Diwali

merch diwali

The holiday season is here, and no, we’re not talking about Christmas.

The season itself has already started, because when you’re a merch seller, the entire world is your market! And there are multiple holidays that many might not know about at all or perhaps only have the slightest connection to. But an untapped market can also be your best friend. Learn the traditions and iconography of other cultures and your Merch By Amazon can becoe a world baaar!

Today we’re going to discuss the holiday of Diwali!

Diwali: The Indian Festival of Lights

Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, is one of India’s most popular holidays. It is comparable to Christmas in the United States in that it may or may not have religious importance. The purpose of Diwali is to demonstrate how light may triumph over darkness.

The celebration is usually held during the Hindu lunisolar month of Kartika, which falls between the middle of October and the middle of November on the Gregorian calendar and falls on the same day as the Hindu New Year.

This year, the five-day holiday of Diwali is observed by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs, as well as some Buddhists. The main celebration is on October 24, so you can observe it fresh – search “Diwali festival” or “Diwali t shirt” and you will see very recent, successfully-selling items.

The Sanskrit word dipavali, which means “row of lights,” is where the name Diwali originates. Since Diwali is so extensively observed by many different religious and cultural groups, its importance might vary in various ways. The major festival day revolves around a puja or pooja (ceremonial worship) in honor of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and good fortune, which is associated with the celebration for many people. Diwali celebrations typically contain fireworks, beautiful rangoli patterns (designs made on the floor with brilliant colored sand, described below), and burning clay lamps called diyas, both inside and outside dwellings. Diwali often evokes positive emotions like happiness and joy.
There are many traditions to participate in when you are an adherent to this practice, and here are a few of them so you can better understand what goes on:

Rangoli

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In India, families clean their homes on the first day of Diwali and use rice, sand, powdered limestone, colored rocks, or flowers to make elaborate patterns on the floor of their homes or on tabletops. It’s a labor-intensive process that reflects the joy, optimism, and vibrancy of a home. Its root is the color-related Sanskrit term “rangavalli.”

Lights and Fireworks

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Of course, the biggest attraction is lighting. Families assemble and celebrate by illuminating lanterns and candles in their residences at the entrances and on the streets on the third day (or the second day if you’re in southern India). Fireworks, sparklers, and diyas are all utilized throughout the celebration. Every morning and evening, a diya is lit, and some people recite the Shubham Karoti Kalyanam, a prayer that thanks the lamp for bringing luck, prosperity, good health, and abundance of money and fortune as well as for atoning for sins.

Sweets

On one of Diwali’s days, the emphasis is on making or purchasing food especially for the celebration, in particular a type of confection known as mithai. When people travel to see family and friends, they frequently bring treats as gifts. They are referred to as “sweet meats” and frequently start with nuts or veggies before being compressed with sugar and occasionally milk. They are offered as a snack or as a course with a cup of masala chai tea. Halwa, a variety of desserts produced with ingredients ranging from carrots to semolina, is one of the more popular forms of mathai. They are often cooked with ghee, water, sugar, spices, and sometimes milk, and have a chewy texture.

In 2004, the Religious Freedom Report of the US Department of State estimated that there were 1.5 million Hindus worldwide, or 0.50% of the population. The United States has the eighth-largest Hindu community in the world; 5.8% of Asian Americans, or 10% of the population, practice Hinduism. And that’s just in the US alone! Globally, that potential market soars.

Some Graphical Thought- Starters

So we are going to look at some ideas today for you to draw inspiration from when selling to people who celebrate Diwali, and we’re going to take care not to include images of actual deities of those faiths as to not inadvertently insult anyone with a possible negative stereotype. It is also VERY important to note that Muslims do not celebrate Diwali, as the focus of their religion is allegiance to only Allah, their name for the God of Abraham. As such it is technically forbidden for them to engage directly in the celebrations of other deities. In making your choices of what to include or not include in your sales, it would be important to understand this cultural and religious distinctiveness.

Diwali Holiday Long-Sleeve Tee

Try this classic Happy Diwali long sleeve unisex t-shirt, which is a made from a 50/50 preshrunk cotton/polyester blend. It uses air jet yarn for softer feel and reduced pilling and features double-needle stitching at shoulders, armholes, neck, waistband, and cuffs. And excellent choice for both the holiday and the colder weather this time of year.

Diwali Kid’s Shirt

Any kid would look adorable wearing the Happy Diwali Kids Shirt from Sky Laark Designs to commemorate the Festival of Lights! These Diwali 2022 shirts come in both normal and puff sleeves. The sublimation process is used to create the images on these tops. For a smooth, elegant finish, 100% polyester SLD Blanks shirts are utilized, which are incredibly soft. These personalized Diwali shirts are in sizes 2T, 3T, 4T, 5, 6, 8, and 10.

Holiday Greetings Sweatshirts

Clean and simple design, nice thick hoodie for the colder months ahead. Ring in the October festival with one of these! This pattern pays homage to the song that “Michael Scott” performed in the Diwali episode of the TV show “The Office”. All your hoodie needs are met by this soft and cozy unisex hoodie. It’s a terrific companion all year long thanks to the fleece material, whether you’re having Christmas dinner in a mountain lodge or spending a summer evening at the beach.

This particular item is printed on blank products sourced from the United States, Nicaragua, or Honduras. They are 48% poly fleece and 52% airlume combed ring-spun cotton, while 60% airlume combed ring-spun cotton and 40% poly fleece make up the heather colors. And as with all Print On Demand products, as soon as you place an order a custom version of each item is created only for you. Making things as needed rather than in large quantities lessens the environmental impact of overproduction.

Babies’ First Diwali Onesie

These Baby Bodysuits are custom made-to-order in the USA. They come in black, navy, raspberry, as well as other hues. They are 100% combed ringspun cotton, 4.5 oz. On the neck, shoulders, sleeves, and leg openings, double-needle stitched rib binding is included. They feature a flatlock seam, a SimpleTear label, and a reinforced three-snap closure. And the best part? It’s customizable! Get their little one’s name on their onesie to celebrate in style and make them the center of every family picture the entire time.

Diwali Socks

Who doesn’t want nice, warm socks when it starts to get cold? Everyone wants them. And what better way to understatedly be festive for Diwali than with these cozy socks? These handmade socks come in average adult size and go up to the calves.

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