Delhi-NCR's Diwali Celebrations Undergo Significant Changes

Delhi-NCR's Diwali celebrations have changed significantly over the past decade. <b>Digital payments</b> and <b>UPI</b> have become increasingly popular. The <b>Supreme Court</b> has instituted strict regulations surrounding firecracker manufacturing and use during Diwali. <b>UPI transactions</b> have grown from 1.78 crore in FY2016-17 to 24,161.69 crore in FY2025-26. The shift to digital payments and environmental mindfulness has transformed the festive shopping experience in Delhi-NCR, with <b>63% of UPI volume</b> being person-to-merchant transactions, according to the government release.