MAM
Ayodhya Kirana community readies for Ram Temple festivities: 70 per cent stock puja items
Mumbai: With the grand Ram Temple set to be inaugurated on 22 January 2024, the entire country is echoing the spirit of enthusiasm and looking forward to the celebrations just like Diwali. A recent survey conducted among retailers in Ayodhya by India’s largest Kirana Community, Kirana Club, also showcases a similar sentiment with local kiranas looking at the event with utmost fervour.
Lakhs of devotees are expected to participate in the Pran Pratishtha ceremony and Kirana owners see this as a great opportunity to enhance their sales. Accordingly, over 70 per cent of kirana stores are stocking up Puja Samagri including cotton wicks, ghee and oil, diya, camphor, rice and wheat, and honey among other things before January 22. Kirana owners are also stocking up Packed Mithai and chocolates, with 15 per cent retailers anticipating increased sales during the auspicious occasion.
The third-most stocked products at Kirana stores in Ayodhya are Chips and Namkeen. Over 9 per cent of retailers expect a heavy demand for these products as they prepare to welcome lakhs of devotees from across the country. Cold drinks and water as well as personal care products such as hair oil and soaps are some of the other categories being stocked up by kiranawallahs in the holy city.
Kirana Club founder Anshul Gupta said, “Our survey among kirana owners in Ayodhya showcases optimism and festive spirit ahead of the historic inauguration of the Ram Temple. Local kirana owners are seeing this as a significant business opportunity to increase footfall in their stores and anticipating increased sales of Puja Samagri, Packed Mithai and Chocolates. The foresightedness of these retailers reflects their understanding of the current market and consumer pulse as well as their commitment to cater to the needs of devotees who would want to pay reverence to Lord Ram in the Pran Pratishtha ceremony.”
Survey results:
Brands
Abhinav Rastogi named global marketing director for YouTube Shopping
Google veteran to scale creator commerce and expand shopping across global markets
SINGAPORE: Abhinav Rastogi has stepped into a new role as global marketing director for YouTube Shopping, marking the latest chapter in a more than decade-long career at Google.
Rastogi, who took on the position in February and is based in Singapore, will lead global marketing for YouTube Shopping, a platform designed to connect creators, viewers and merchants in a single ecosystem. His remit includes expanding the service into new markets and strengthening its positioning as a growth channel for both creators and brands.
In a reflective note on the transition, Rastogi pointed to a simple but powerful idea driving the role. For years, creators have quietly built trust with audiences through consistent and authentic content, and that trust often shapes purchasing decisions. What is changing now, he said, is the infrastructure around that behaviour. YouTube Shopping aims to make it easier for viewers to discover and buy products recommended by creators they already follow.
The scale is already significant. More than half a million creators have joined the programme, with recent expansion into Japan through a partnership with Rakuten signalling further global ambitions.
Rastogi believes the future of shopping on YouTube will be driven by a blend of creators, content and communities. In his view, it is the human voice behind the screen, not just the product, that ultimately builds trust and drives discovery.
Prior to this role, he served as director of marketing, YouTube Asia Pacific, where he led regional marketing across creator engagement, brand building and reputation. During that time, he played a key role in launching and scaling YouTube Shopping across eight markets in the region.
Earlier stints at Google include group product marketing manager, consumer apps, overseeing growth for products such as Search, Maps and Assistant across India and Southeast Asia, and product marketing manager roles spanning consumer apps and YouTube, where he contributed to launches including YouTube Music, YouTube Originals and YouTube Shorts.
Rastogi began his career in consulting with Boston Consulting Group and A.T. Kearney, before moving into the technology sector. He is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Alongside his corporate role, he is also an active angel investor, backing early-stage startups in consumer technology and electric mobility across India and Southeast Asia.
As he settles into the new role, Rastogi is betting on a future where every video can double up as a storefront, and where commerce feels less like a transaction and more like a recommendation from a trusted voice.
