It used to be that November in India was a quiet month. The crackers of Diwali had been swept away, the wedding season was just warming up, and our wallets were resting after the festive spending spree.
But a few years ago, something changed.
You might have noticed it while walking past an H&M or Zara store, or while scrolling through Instagram. A bold, black banner screaming “BLACK FRIDAY SALE.”
You probably paused and thought: “Wait, we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. We aren’t in America. Why is this happening here?”
This is the story of how an American tradition crossed the ocean, lost its cultural meaning, and became one of India’s biggest shopping festivals.
The Origin: The Day After Turkey
To understand the Indian version, we have to look at the American original. In the US, “Black Friday” is the day after Thanksgiving (the fourth Thursday of November). It marks the unofficial start of the Christmas shopping season.
Why “Black”? The old story goes that this was the day retail stores finally made enough money to move from being “in the red” (losing money) to “in the black” (making a profit). It is chaotic, loud, and famous for people fighting over cheap TVs.
The Arrival: The “Western” Brand Invasion
So, how did it land in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore?
It didn’t come through our festivals; it came through our closets.
About a decade ago, global fashion giants like Zara, H&M, and Marks & Spencer expanded aggressively in India. These brands run on a global calendar. When they slashed prices in New York and London for Black Friday, they couldn’t exactly keep full prices in India without upsetting global systems.
So, they brought the sale here.
At first, it was a secret for the fashion-conscious. While the rest of India was working, a small group of shoppers knew that the last Friday of November was the only time you could get a flat 40% off on winter coats.
The Digital Explosion
Then came the e-commerce giants.
Nykaa (the beauty giant) and Myntra realized there was a “spending gap” between Diwali (October/November) and the End of Reason Sales (January). They needed a reason to make people shop in late November.
They looked at Black Friday and said, “Let’s borrow that.”
Suddenly, it wasn’t just about American clothes. It became about electronics (Croma, Reliance Digital), beauty products (Pink Friday Sales), and even gym memberships.
What Black Friday Means in India Today (2025)
Today, Black Friday in India has evolved into a unique beast. It is distinct from the Great Indian Festival or Big Billion Days.
- It’s Urban & Gen Z: While Diwali sales are for families (washing machines, gold, gifts), Black Friday is for the individual. It’s about sneakers, makeup, gaming consoles, and western wear.
- The Timing: It usually runs for the last weekend of November (often called “Cyber Weekend” leading into “Cyber Monday”).
- The Vibe: It lacks the emotional “homecoming” vibe of Indian festivals. It is purely, unapologetically about the Deal.
Summary
So, the next time you see that “Black Friday” notification pop up, don’t be confused. It isn’t a glitch in the matrix. It is simply the global economy at work, turning a quiet Indian November into a shopping adrenaline rush.
You might not eat Turkey, but you can certainly enjoy the 50% off on those sneakers.
