Staff Reporter. SUPPLIED

At a special time of year when Indians around the world unite in celebration of Diwali - the festival of lights - there can be few better places to buy loved ones something special than Dubai, the city of gold. Traders have traveled to Dubai's souks for more than a hundred years in search of spices, pearls, and gold. To mark the first day of Diwali - on 22 October - Indians celebrate with gifts of gold and jewelry. As a special promotion this Diwali in Dubai, shoppers can take advantage of exceptional deals and offers on purchases with the Dubai Jewellery Group. Buyers can enjoy 50 percent off selected diamond jewelry collections and up to half-price on making charges on select gold jewelry. Purchases of gold, diamond, pearl, or precious jewelry of AED 500 at participating outlets will also be entered into an exciting raffle to win shopping vouchers worth AED 5000 each. AED 150,000 worth of jewelry vouchers will be handed out to 30 lucky winners, making the festival of light one of the brightest ever in Dubai. For more information on offers and deals, visit www.dubaicityofgold.com. What is Dhanteras? The five-day festival sees soaring gold sales in one of the busiest shopping periods of the year. Dhanteras is eagerly awaited by vendors and traders of gold around the world, but what does the festival symbolize? Tradition will see millions worldwide mark the occasion with new purchases of sparkling jewelry, gold coins, and bars to pass among family and friends. It is not uncommon for bonuses and special gifts to be handed out to employers during the festival of lights. And it is not just gold that features high on the shopping list, as many people will also purchase or gift appliances, homeware, or even a new car. This Diwali, Centrepoint is giving shoppers a chance to win gold coins and shopping vouchers when purchasing items for a minimum of AED 200. And at Emax, customers can get a scratch-and-win coupon for a chance to win prizes such as 1 gram of gold coin and much more when spending AED 2000. And when shopping at HomeBox, visitors will get a raffle coupon for a chance to win one of four gold coins, which are 10 grams each and worth Dh2000. Twenty lucky winners will take home 24-carat gold coins worth Dh5000 when shopping at participating malls under the Dubai Shopping Malls Group, including Arabian Center, Al Ghurair Centre, Dubai Outlet Mall, Al Quoz Mall, Central Mall, Times Square Centre, Bay Avenue, Al Khail Gate, Al Bustan Centre. As part of the festival, homes are cleansed and decluttered to restore a sense of calm. Lamps are lit in the house to attract future prosperity. Why gold? Gold is close to the hearts of Indians many of those living in India, a nation home to more than 1.4 billion. It is considered auspicious in Indian culture, particularly during Diwali and Dhanteras. Gold has become such a passion and embedded into a heritage that in 2021, figures from the World Gold Council showed demand across India for the precious metal reached 797 tonnes. Demand worldwide rose 10 percent in 2021, climbing to 4,021 tonnes. Diwali will surely be an extra special celebration this year in the UAE. The Emirates is now home to over 2.5 million Indians, and many will celebrate Diwali in Dubai. It has become a much-loved period of the Dubai events calendar, not just within the Indian diaspora but also among the many residents and tourists who flock to the country at this time of year to make the most of events, entertainment and retail offer designed to sparkle, as well as festive fireworks and lighting across the city. As a festival of new beginnings and hopes for the future, for those wishing to share greetings at this time of year, try a simple "Happy Dhanteras" or "Shubh Dhanteras," which translates to "Auspicious Dhanteras." PR/ Expat Media
For all the latest news from the UAE and the world, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube page